AFC Cup: East Bengal seek victory to boost campaign

KOLKATA: When East Bengal resume their AFC Cup campaign, against Balestier Khalsa FC in Singapore's Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday, Eelco Schattorie's side may have a new 'cheerleader' in the stands.
Tollywood actor Rituparna Sengupta, who is currently in Singapore, wished the red-and-golds luck on Monday and may also cheer from the stands during the match.
With a host of local Indi ans set to throng the stadium, Schattorie has promised to go for a win against the hosts.
"Although we are missing four players who are on national duty and also our captain (Harmanjyot Singh Khabra) who is injured, I believe we have a good opportunity to win and we'll certainly go for three points,” the Dutch coach said.
Khabra, who has resumed training after a long injury lay-off, has not made the trip to Singapore. "After our 1-4 loss to Johor Darul Ta'zim in Malyasia, the team turned things around against Hong Kong's Kitchee SC. We are confident of putting up a good show here,” Schattorie said at the pre-match press conference in Singapore on Monday.
The Dutchman's confidence stems from East Bengal's second-half response against Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC in their previous match. Ranty Martins led the team's fight back deep into the second half to snatch a 1-1 draw.
According to information received here, Schattorie is likely to start with the same XI against the S-League side that did duty against Kitchee at the Salt Lake Staduim. Balestier Khalsa, incidentally , have lost both their matches in the group so far.
Big test for BFC's bench strength:
Bengaluru FC's bench strength will face a stern test as they face wounded Singapore champions Warriors FC in a crucial Group E match in the AFC Cup at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Tuesday night. Both teams are looking to reignite their campaign to advance to the second round. "It is going to be a tough match without four of our regulars. But that's the way it is and we have to adapt to the reality and hope the youngsters will step up and grab the chance. The Singapore side may have crashed to a heavy defeat in their last S-league match, but I watched that game and it was in no way a 0-6 match," Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood said on the match eve.