East Bengal look for home solace at Salt Lake match against Iraq’s Al Shorta SC

East Bengal would have been far better placed in terms of mindset had they put in a better showing in their IFA Shield final against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

A Shield triumph, after winning the Durand Cup in style, would certainly have helped Antonio Lopez Habas’s men approach Tuesday’s AFC Champions League II (ACL II) group D clash against Iraq’s Al Shorta SC at the Salt Lake Stadium with a lot more positivity.

Nonetheless, the advantage of playing at home does come as a matter of comfort for East Bengal as they go into the clash against the Iraqi unit, which features two World Cuppers in the form of goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachem and striker Mohanad Ali.

East Bengal are also set to have senior defender Anwar Ali back in the XI, while it remains to be seen if Habas makes any other change as well, especially upfront. In the Shield final last week, East Bengal’s defence looked shaky whenever Bagan went on the counter.

Anwar’s return should strengthen the defence to an extent. But what about the forward line? Will it remain the same? Or, will David Lalhlansanga Hmar get a start?

Assuming Edmund Lal- rindika retains his place, East Bengal need him to buck up and be a little more enterprising, as he was during his hat-trick in the Durand final. Against Bagan in the Shield final, one could barely spot him, barring one or two occasions early in the first half.

Habas, though, backed his team to look forward and approach the game with a fresh guard. “Tomorrow (Tuesday)’s game could be our toughest as they (Al-Shorta) are a very good side.

“Now, what has happened has happened, and we need to start afresh. It’s just that we aren’t able to play in the same rhythm and tempo in both halves. That’s the area where we need to work on,” the Spaniard pointed out.

Al Shorta, on their part, are placed fifth in the current Iraqi league standings. “It’s just the start (at ACL II), so there isn’t much difference between the teams.

“But yes, the team that secures more points at the start can make a difference,” Al Shorta’s Tunisian coach Sami Trabelsi said.

The weather here, too, will not be a problem for Al Shorta.