Al-Seeb late goals sink East Bengal 0-2 in Kolkata
Oman club Al-Seeb scored twice in the closing minutes to beat East Bengal 2-0 in Kolkata on Tuesday, leaving the Indian side bottom of AFC Champions League Two Group D.
Key Takeaways
- East Bengal lost 0-2 to Oman's Al-Seeb Club in an AFC Champions League Two Group D match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
- Both goals came late: Axel Meye broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, and Zahir Al Aghbari sealed the win in the first minute of stoppage time.
- The defeat leaves East Bengal bottom of Group D with two points from four matches, and their hopes of reaching the knockout stage now depend on winning their last two games and on other results going their way.
Introduction
East Bengal's wait for a first win in this season's AFC Champions League Two goes on. For 84 minutes at the Salt Lake Stadium, the Kolkata side held Oman's Al-Seeb Club at bay, but two late strikes turned a night that demanded three points into a 2-0 home defeat.
The result is a heavy blow to East Bengal's continental campaign. With two group matches left, the Indian club sit at the foot of Group D, while Al-Seeb climb to third place and keep their own qualification hopes alive.
What Happened?
The match, the fourth round of Group D fixtures in the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27, kicked off at 7:15 pm IST on Tuesday at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The first half ended goalless, with East Bengal unable to turn their openings into a lead.
That wastefulness in front of goal proved costly. As the clock ran down, Al-Seeb struck twice. In the 85th minute, Hassan Al Ajmi recycled the ball back to Axel Meye, who controlled it, turned past his marker and drove a powerful shot past goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa to break the deadlock.
Meye then turned provider in stoppage time. He sent substitute Zahir Al Aghbari clear on a counter-attack, and Al Aghbari finished into the bottom corner in the 91st minute to make it 2-0.
Why Does This Matter?
Continental football tests where an Indian club stands against Asia's better-organised sides, and this defeat shows how fine the margins are. East Bengal were in the game for almost the full 90 minutes, yet left with nothing because they could not score while they were on top and could not hold out when Al-Seeb pressed late.
The group table now tells a harsh story. Al Shorta of Iraq lead Group D with seven points, followed by Al Hussein of Jordan on five and Al-Seeb on four, with East Bengal last on two points from four matches. That means East Bengal no longer control their own fate: even two wins from two may not be enough without help from elsewhere.
Important Details
- Result: East Bengal 0-2 Al-Seeb Club, AFC Champions League Two 2026-27, Group D, matchday four.
- When and where: Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata; kick-off 7:15 pm IST.
- Goals: Axel Meye in the 85th minute; Zahir Al Aghbari in the first minute of stoppage time (90+1).
- Half-time score: 0-0, with East Bengal guilty of missing chances before the break.
- Group D standings after the match: Al Shorta 7 points, Al Hussein 5, Al-Seeb 4, East Bengal 2.
- What East Bengal need: Wins in their last two group matches, plus other results going in their favour, to stay in knockout-stage contention.
Background and Context
East Bengal came into this fixture still searching for a first group win, having drawn twice and lost once in their opening three matches, including a 3-2 home defeat by Al Shorta in October. Al-Seeb, meanwhile, had managed only one point from their first three games and were yet to score in the group stage before Tuesday night.
East Bengal's failure to convert their chances, however, followed a familiar pattern from their earlier group games, where promising positions did not become goals. Al-Seeb, patient for most of the evening, punished that wastefulness with a ruthless final six minutes.
What Happens Next?
East Bengal's group campaign continues at home against Al Hussein on 24 November, before they finish the group stage away to Al Shorta in Iraq on 8 December. Both matches are now effectively finals for the Kolkata club.
Before those games, the focus will be on finishing. East Bengal's coaches and players have three weeks to turn dominance in spells into goals, because another night of missed chances in Kolkata on 24 November would leave their continental season all but over, regardless of what happens elsewhere in the group.
FAQs
What was the score in East Bengal vs Al-Seeb? Al-Seeb won 2-0 in Kolkata on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
Who scored the goals? Axel Meye scored in the 85th minute and Zahir Al Aghbari added the second in the first minute of stoppage time.
Where do East Bengal stand in Group D? Bottom, with two points from four matches, behind Al Shorta (seven), Al Hussein (five) and Al-Seeb (four).
What do East Bengal need to qualify? They must win their remaining games, against Al Hussein on 24 November and Al Shorta on 8 December, and need other results in the group to go in their favour.
Sources and Verification
This article is based on the Asian Football Confederation's match report published on 3 November 2026, The Hindu's report published on 3 November 2026 at 9:49 pm IST, and the New Indian Express report updated on 3 November 2026 at 4:51 pm, with the scoreline, scorers, venue and group standings cross-checked across all three. Where spellings of the second scorer's name differed slightly between outlets, this article uses Zahir Al Aghbari. The match was played on 3 November 2026, not in any earlier season.
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Editorial Note
Group standings and fixture dates are as reported on 3 November 2026. If the AFC revises any match detail, this article will be updated, and the official AFC record should be treated as final.
