East Bengal have to win against Aizawl FC to stand a chance of qualifying to the semifinals of the Hero Super Cup 2023.
EBFC vs AFC Match Details
Date: Monday, 17 April 2023
Time: 17:00 (IST)
Venue: Payyanad Stadium, Manjeri
EBFC vs AFC Match Preview
East Bengal had themselves to blame for losing a 3-1 lead over Hyderabad FC in the last 20 minutes of the game to settle for a 3-3 draw in the second group game of the Super Cup 2023. Naorem Mahesh gave the Red and Golds the lead by beating the offside trap of the Nizams and rounding off the onrushing Gurmeet Singh to slot into the empty net. After Javier Siverio equalized for the opposition, VP Suhair retook the lead with a powerful drive before Mahesh got his second of the evening just before the break. It looked like Stephen Constantine’s men will settle for all three points but then Hyderabad’s Spanish forward struck again and opened the gate for substitute Rabeeh to thump in the equalizer in the 83rd minute. Both sides failed to take opportunities to win the game at the very end settling for a point which is more of a frustrating result for East Bengal. The Torch-Bearers now have to win against bottom-placed Aizawl FC in the final group game and hope the other game ends in a draw to help them finish at the top of the group. Otherwise, they have to exist a competition prematurely once again.
For Aizawl FC, the final group stage game against East Bengal will be all about damage control after losing their first two games of the season. The side from I-League struggled in a group paired with three ISL sides, conceding a 2-1 defeat to Hyderabad FC in the group stage opener and then a 3-0 thrashing by Odisha FC last week. It could easily have been four if not goalkeeper Vanlalhriatpuia saved a last-minute penalty from Diego Mauricio who gave the Juggernauts the lead at the start of the second half with Victor Rodriguez and substitute Nanda Kumar Sekar scoring the other goals. All is not lost for Aizawl FC as they at least can exit the tournament with a victory keeping their incredible seven-game unbeaten run in the meeting against East Bengal intact. The Mizoram-based club have not lost a game facing the Kolkata giants since 2017. They have also scored in eight of the nine meetings with this being their first encounter in the Super Cup. Caetano Pino’s men could prove to be the barrier to stop East Bengal from having any chance to move into the semifinals.
Recent Form (Super Cup)
EBFC: DD
AFC: LL
EBFC vs AFC Predicted Lineups
EBFC: Kamaljit Singh; Athul Unnikrishnan, Lalchungnunga, Charalampos Kyriakou, Sarthak Golui, Alex Lima, Mobabhshir Rahman, Jordan O’Doherty; VP Suhair, Cleiton Silva, Mahesh Singh
AFC: Vanlalhriatpuia; Akito Saito, Zodingliana Ralte, Lalchawnkima, Lalmuanawma; Eisuke Mohri, Lalchhanhima Sailo, Lalrinfela, Lalthanmawia; David Lalhlansanga, Ivan Veras
EBFC vs AFC Head to head
EBFC won - 2
Drawn - 4
AFC won - 3
EBFC vs AFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Kamaljit (7.5)
DEF: Sarthak (7.5), Kyriakou (8.5), Lalchawnkima (8)
MID: Suhair (8), Lalrinfela (8.5), Doherty (7.5), Mahesh (9)
FW: Lalhlansanga (8) Veras (9), C Silva (9)
Vice-captain: VP Suhair
Captain: Naorem Mahesh
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
