Top five Al-Shorta players to watch out for in East Bengal vs Al-Shorta in AFC Champions League Two
Eight-time Iraqi champions stand at the summit of Group D in AFC Champions League 2
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan is all set to host the second matchweek fixtures of the AFC Champions League 2, where home team East Bengal FC are set to take on eight-time Iraqi champions Al-Shorta SC in what is set to be a thrilling contest.
East Bengal are coming off a 2-2 draw against Al Hussein SC. The Red and Gold Brigade were two goals up in the first half after goals from Ramirez and Anwar Ali, but two goals in the last two quarters from Al Mardi and Assaf saw Al Hussein script a 2-2 comeback.
On the other hand, Al-Shorta registered a 1-0 win over Al-Seeb in the last game after Al Saedi scored a goal in the 51st minute. The Omani side tried to pull one back, but the Iraqi defence remained resolute and clinched a narrow win.
The next match will be a crucial test for Antonio Lopez Habas’ side as they eye the first win of their AFC Champions League 2 campaign. The challenge ahead is bigger, and Al-Shorta have too many quality players. In this article, we take a closer look at Al-Shorta’s top players to keep an eye on.
5. Diego Hernandez
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
The Colombian defender has plied his trade with América de Cali & Real Santander during the formative stages of his career before making a move to Aguilas Doradas. He is currently on loan at Al-Shorta, and he arrived at Al-Shorta SC with high expectations.
He was on the bench against Al-Seeb in the AFC Champions League 2 fixture. He is the most valuable player in Al-Shorta’s squad. He is physically dominant in the box and excels at clearing set pieces.
He will be a major force to reckon for East Bengal in the upcoming game as they eye clinching their first win after playing a 2-2 draw in the first game.
4. Mohanad Ali
Ali was part of Iraq’s team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and played a few minutes against Norway in the group stage fixtures. The 26-year-old striker has previously donned the jerseys of Dibba Al Fujairah, where he had a prolific spell in the Emirates before making a triumphant free-transfer return home to Al-Shorta SC.
He caught global limelight, scoring phenomenal solo goals against Vietnam and Yemen at a young age of just 18. He has made over 60 appearances for the Iraq national team and has found the back of the net on 21 occasions.
3. Cristian Barco
The Argentine midfielder had a highly successful stint in Bolivia with Guabira, where he made 34 appearances and had 19 goal contributions. He logged multiple goals and assists under heavy pressure and was a star performer in the Bolivian League.
He made his debut for Al-Shorta against Al-Seeb in the AFC Champions League 2, where he gave a match-winning assist to Al-Saedi in the 51st minute as the Iraqi outfit won the game 1-0. Barco is an incredibly fluid attacking midfielder who excels at occupying the central half spaces.
2. Boaz Ngalamulume
Ngalamulume spent crucial developmental and senior years with the Congolese football giants, TP Mazembe and has featured in CAF Champions League matches against continental elite like Al-Hilal Omdurman and Young Africans.
The Congolese midfielder made a move to Libya with Abu Salim SC before finding his new home in Iraq. He has represented the DR Congo national team on a few occasions and will be tasked with the responsibility of controlling the tempo and dictating the pace of the game.
1. Rubén Ramírez
The Venezuelan defender was at his best against Al-Seeb as Al-Shorta won the game 1-0 and also clinched a clean sheet. After playing in Armenia and the Netherlands, he made a move back home to Monagas SC, where he impressed a lot and became a key figure in domestic and continental games.
During his stint with Monagas SC, he logged extensive minutes in South America’s most prestigious club tournament, the CONMEBOL Libertadores. He was part of the Venezuela national team in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, where he scored a goal in three games.
When will East Bengal FC face Al-Shorta in the AFC Champions League Two?
East Bengal FC will host Al-Shorta SC on 13th October, 2026 in the 2nd match day of the AFC Champions League Two Group Stages. The match will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The match is scheduled to start at 7:15.
How many times have Al-Shorta won the Iraqi league?
Al-Shorta have won the Iraqi league 8 times.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.