East Bengal vs Punjab FC: Three key player battles to watch in Super Cup 2025-26 Semifinal 1
East Bengal will take on Punjab FC for a spot in the Super Cup Final.
East Bengal return to action when they face off against a confident Punjab FC side in the semi-finals of the 2025 AIFF Super Cup on Thursday, December 4 (2025). With both sides coming off a strong showing at the group stages, where they won the group over Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC, respectively, this upcoming semifinal clash is expected to be a thrilling contest.
Because of how well both East Bengal and Punjab have performed in the Super Cup so far, this game should be a tightly contested, intense affair. It will probably be decided by the small margins, and the team that is sturdiest and most clinical can only move into the finals of the tournament.
There should be some feisty player battles on the pitch, but a few particular duels could define the result of this match. Because of the importance of certain players in both teams, winning these battles could give them the necessary edge to clinch the victory. With that being said, we look at the three key battles to watch in the East Bengal vs Punjab FC clash.
3. Nsungusi Effiong vs Anwar Ali
Punjab FC will definitely be taking the fight to East Bengal in this upcoming semifinal and looking to go toe-to-toe with some blistering attacking football. This match will also be the ideal platform for new Punjab FC forward Nsungusi Effiong to properly introduce himself to the Indian football fraternity.
The 26-year-old forward, who scored seven goals in the Uzbekistan top division last season, is packed with power and a physically intimidating figure at a height of 6’5’.
That is why this will be quite the challenge for Anwar Ali, who will probably be tasked with keeping the Nigerian forward quiet. Anwar will need to be at his proactive best in the backline, reading the Punjab attacking moves to make crucial clearances and stop Effiong from dominating things inside the East Bengal box.
The Punjab FC forward will look to use his clever off-the-ball movement to get past the defenders, but will need to be particularly unpredictable with his work to outwit the sturdy Anwar and threaten the East Bengal goal.
2. Miguel Ferreira vs Samir Zeljkovic
Miguel Ferraira has proven himself as quite a valuable signing for East Bengal, bringing a lot of energy and driving force to their midfield line. Not only is the Brazilian midfielder a hard worker who puts in the work to help his side regain possession in key areas, but he can also carry the ball forward and create chances. Ferreira will look to be at his inspired best to help his side dominate the game, but he also faces a tough midfield battle against Punjab FC man Samir Zeljkovic.
The midfielder scored in the recent win over Mohammedan SC in the group stages with a sweet strike, but he’s quite an all-around product in the midfield. The Bosnian midfielder is quite a tenacious figure in the midfield, putting in a lot of work to stop opposition attacks, winning duels and regaining possession in key areas – while he also likes driving his side forward to create chances.
The influential nature of both midfielders will cause for a fascinating battle in the upcoming semifinal. Whichever midfielder is basically more sharper with their movement and passes will reign on top and can play a big role in thir team’s success.
1. Hamid Ahadad vs Khaimintha Lhungdim
Hamid Ahadad was not really able to make that big an impact for East Bengal in the group stages of the Super Cup, failing to score any goals in the initial stages. However, the Moroccan forward’s qualities cannot be undermined, considering how well he’s played for Oscar Bruzon’s side since arriving, scoring two goals in three Durand Cup matches for the Red & Gold Brigade.
Hamid, who has five goals in the CAF Champions League in his career, will be determined to return to action sharply for the Red & Gold Brigade.
However, he can expect to face a stern test in the Super Cup semifinal against Punjab FC’s solid defender Khaimintha Lhungdim. Lhungdim produced some really rock-solid performances in the group stages, doing a particularly impressive job at keeping the Bengaluru FC players quiet in the 0-0 draw!
Lhungdim now faces a difficult test of keeping the unpredictable Hamid Ahadad quiet, and he must be alert all the time to anticipate the forward’s movement to neutralise his threat. Hamid, meanwhile, will look to be smart with his off-the-ball movement to get into the key areas and finish off chances clinically to guide his side to a big win.
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Uttiyo is a sports journalist who has been covering football since 2016. He is an avid football enthusiast who spends hours either watching the beautiful game or writing about it. He has covered various tournaments for Khel Now, such as the FIFA U17 World Cup, ISL, I-League & AFC Champions League.