AFC Cup: East Bengal chase history against Xuan Thanh

KOLKATA: Their I-League dreams may be as good as over, but East Bengal stand on the threshold of history in their AFC Cup campaign.

Trevor Morgan spelt out the agenda for his team on Monday, the eve of against Vietnam's Sai Gon Xuan Thanh FC in the continental competition: Finishing the group on top. East Bengal not only have the opportunity to win their group but also break barriers in Indian football.

--> The red and golds, who have already qualified for the next round, are unbeaten in the competition and leading Group H with 11 points from five games, three more than their Vietnamese rivals.

A draw at the Salt Lake Stadium will help Morgan's brigade become the first Indian team to make the knockouts undefeated as group toppers.

There is another incentive for the group champions: they will be host the one-off pre-quarterfinal match. Such a prospect will obviously mean less travel for Morgan's side while also preparing for remaining two CFL Premier Division matches and the final phase of I-League.

As things stand, the red and golds are slated to face either Yangon United of Myanmar or Maldives' New Radiant SC in the next round, depending on those two teams' respective results in Group F on Wednesday.

No wonder Morgan said with a smile: "Being No 1 makes a good reading."

East Bengal, though, will miss the services of two key players who contributed significantly to the team's goalless draw against the Vietnamese outfit in Ho Chi Minh City. While right-back Harmanjyot Singh Khabra is injured, key midfielder Mehtab Hossain is suspended for the match. Naoba Singh and Cavin Lobo are expected to fill up their places.

Morgan stressed on the eve of the match that the point earned in Vietnam was more important than the 4-2 win against Tampines Rovers in Singapore. With Sai Gon Xuan Thanh still not assured of their progress, Morgan is expecting a strong response from the visitors. But playing on artificial turf in hot and humid conditions may be an impediment for the visitors.

Head coach Tran Trien Dai has not travelled with the side. The visitors will rely on Nigerianforward Emeka Ndubuisi Oguwike, but their Cameroonian striker Christian — who troubled the East Bengal defence in the first leg — hasn't come to Kolkata. The visitors could seal their progress here, but it's East Bengal who will be chasing history on Tuesday.