East Bengal Draws 2-2 in AFC Champions League Two Opener
The AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 group stage began on September 15, with 32 teams in action. India's East Bengal drew 2-2 with Jordan's Al Hussein SC after leading by two goals at halftime.
The group stage of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 is underway after 32 teams from across Asia were divided into West and East regions. The first matchday was played from September 15 to 17, with the top two teams from each of the eight groups set to advance to a 16-team knockout round.
India's sole representative, East Bengal, began its campaign with a 2-2 away draw against Jordan's Al Hussein SC. The Indian club had taken a two-goal lead into halftime but could not hold on for the win.
West Region Results
In Group A, Al-Wahda staged a dramatic comeback against Al-Kuwait, scoring an 87th-minute equalizer and a 97th-minute winner after trailing by two goals early. The other group match between Al-Khaldiya and FC Nasaf ended 0-0.
FK Arkadag, which qualified by defeating India's FC Goa in the preliminary stage, started Group B with a 1-0 win over Al-Muharraq SC. Gol Gohar and Al Jazira played to a goalless draw in the other fixture.
Group C saw a high-scoring affair as Qatar's Al-Rayyan edged Al-Faisaly 4-3 after leading 3-0 in the first half. Al-Taawoun conceded an 81st-minute equalizer to draw 1-1 with Al-Nahda.
Alongside East Bengal's draw in Group D, Al-Shorta secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Seeb thanks to a goal from Mohanad Ali.
East Region Results
Indonesian champions Persib Bandung won their Group E opener 1-0 against Japan's FC Seoul, with Julio Cesar scoring the early goal. Melbourne Victory drew 1-1 with Vietnamese side The Cong-Viettel.
Adelaide United recorded the most decisive win of the matchday, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Hong Kong's Tai Po FC in Group F. Lion City Sailors and BG Pathum United played to a 1-1 draw.
In Group G, Japan's Emperor's Cup champions Machida Zelvia beat Cambodian side PKR Svay Rieng 2-0. Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua also won, defeating Singapore's Tampines Rovers 2-1, making Group G the only one where both matches produced a winner.
Group H featured a last-gasp winner, with Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC beating Malaysia's Kuching City 2-1 thanks to a 91st-minute goal from John Dyer. Gangwon FC and Kitchee SC played out a 0-0 draw.
The source, Khel Now, provided the complete standings after the opening fixtures. The competition continues with the top two finishers from each group progressing to the next round.
