That's a wrap for our coverage of the AFC Champions League Two clash between East Bengal and Al-Arabi. A superb win for East Bengal, against the odds, in front of their passionate home fans. 

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live and latest updates from the sports world. Goodnight!

Not many would've given East Bengal a chance when they went 1-0 down in the 76th minute after conceding a penalty. But then came the incredible comeback. Jay Gupta was the unlikely scorer of the equaliser, slamming an incredible header in the 90th minute. Bassim Rashid smashed in a terrific volley to make it 2-1 in extra time. And then David Hmar showed his class, scoring an ice-cool third goal and setting up the fourth for Rohit Danu.

1-0 down to 4-1 win - a magical night for the East Bengal fans.

East Bengal make history and qualify for the main group stage of the rebranded AFC Champions League Two for the very first time. A remarkable performance tonight, where they came back every time their backs were against the walls.

East Bengal will be in Pot 4 in the group stage draw, along with Bahrain's Al-Khaldiya and Oman's Al-Nahda.

VICTORY FOR EAST BENGAL! Qualification to ACL Two group stage secured! A comeback to remember for the ages for East Bengal. From 1-0 down, they slammed a 90th-minute equaliser, and then scored three more goals in extra time to register a thumping win.

FT | EBFC 4-1 AASC (a.e.t.)

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL! The cherry on top of an incredible comeback! David Hmar once again with some brilliant footwork, draws the keeper out, and then a simple pass to Rohit Danu who slams in the fourth goal into an empty net! Game. Set. Match.

120 1' EBFC 4-1 AASC

GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL! Surely that's the final nail in the coffin! David Lalhlansanga Hmar with the goal! East Bengal on the counter with Hmar, who finds a teammate in the box, who shoots but sees it saved. Hmar picks up the rebound, classily feints past a defender and also the goalkeeper and then slots it home! Incredible composure!

117' EBFC 3-1 AASC

GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL! Mohammed Bassim Rashid gives East Bengal the lead, and it's a SCREAMER! Patient build-up from the right wing, and then a chipped pass towards Rashid, who slams it on the half volley. The strike is incredible, and it nestles into the back of the net! WOW!

108' EBFC 2-1 AASC

The first half of extra time concludes. It's still 1-1, despite chances at both ends in the last 15 minutes. Al-Arabi piled the pressure on East Bengal in the final minutes of the half, but the hosts defended with grit.

15 more minutes to go, and maybe penalties after that!

HT of ET | EBFC 1-1 AASC

East Bengal put in an important block! Chance for Al-Arabi, a cutback into the box, but the shot is blocked by Sandip Mandi, who had conceded the penalty earlier.

A number of crosses into the East Bengal box by the visitors, but the hosts are holding on in the late moments of the first half of extra time.

105' EBFC 1-1 AASC

Al-Arabi caught East Bengal by surprise, and were in a 5v1 counter-attack scenario, but East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill anticipated the danger and swept it away! Gill came nearly to the halfway line to clear the danger. 

102' EBFC 1-1 AASC

Edmund Lalrindika is sent through with a lobbed pass on the left, and then he cuts it back for a teammate, but the flag goes up for he could shoot. Edmund was offside in the build-up. East Bengal have started off on a strong note in extra time.

96' EBFC 1-1 AASC

We are underway in extra time! 30 more minutes of football between East Bengal and Al-Arabi SC at the Salt Lake Stadium. Remember, the winner secures a place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, so the stakes are massive!

91' EBFC 1-1 AASC

90 minutes done, 30 more to go! East Bengal have forced extra time with a sensational goal by Jay Gupta in the final minutes of the second half. 25,000 fans at the Salt Lake Stadium have 30 more minutes to cheer their team on. Stay tuned, more action on the way!

End of 90 | EBFC 1-1 AASC

GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! East Bengal equalise in the 90th minute! From the jaws of defeat, Jay Gupta rises like a phoenix to slam in the equaliser for East Bengal! A free-kick from the left wing, and the cross is headed home by left-back Jay Gupta! The Salt Lake Stadium erupts, it's absolute pandemonium! What a goal! 

90' EBFC 1-1 AASC

GOOOOAAAAALLLLL! Al-Arabi take the lead from the penalty spot! Anayo Iwuala scores, slamming it into the bottom-left corner. Prabhsukhan Gill guessed the right way, but Iwuala's placement was perfect.

After missing a number of chances, East Bengal now go behind due to an error of their own.

76' EBFC 0-1 AASC

Foul in the box, PENALTY! Al-Arabi drive into the box from the right wing, the player gets away from Sandip Mandi, who ends up committing the foul. The referee points to the spot straight away, and even the East Bengal players aren't appealing all that much.

75' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Just about 20 minutes to go in regulation time. East Bengal have had the better chances in the second half, but they've not been able to make them count. Remember, we will go to 30 minutes of extra time if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes.

70' EBFC 0-0 AASC

East Bengal win a free-kick in a good area. Instead of putting in a cross, Dani Ramirez plays a cheeky low pass to Edmund, who gets away from the Al-Arabi defence in the box. However, Edmund's shot goes over the bar. A good free-kick routine from the training ground, but it does not work out in the end.

57' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Oh dear, oh dear! Massive, massive chance wasted by East Bengal. The ISL champs come on a lightning quick counter-attack, Jesin TK gets the ball on the right wing and then squares it for Bipin Singh, but his shot is poor! It lacks power and accuracy, and goes wide of the target. Looks like the goalkeeper got a touch too.

How badly will East Bengal regret this missed chance?

50' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Fantastic acceleration from Anayo Iwuala down the left wing once again, he runs past a number of East Bengal defenders and then takes a low shot at goal. Thankfully for the hosts, Prabhsukhan Gill makes a crucial save!

49' EBFC 0-0 AASC

We are back! The second half is underway in the AFC Champions League Two knockout qualifier between East Bengal and Al-Arabi. Still 0-0, who will get the all-important opening goal?

46' EBFC 0-0 AASC

If the AFC Champions League Two clash between East Bengal and Al-Arabi ends in a draw after 90 minutes, we will go to 30 more minutes of extra time. If the match is still tied after 120 minutes of action, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.

HALF TIME! The half comes to an end as a golden chance created by Iwuala is skied in the end by the receiver in the box. Goalless after the first 45 minutes, despite big chances for both teams. Still all to play for, stay tuned!

HT | EBFC 0-0 AASC

A lovely cross from the right wing from Al-Arabi, it's met in the box with a header, but it goes wide! The header did not come off properly. That's a chance missed. A half of missed opportunities for both teams.

44' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Al-Arabi squander another chance! Anayo Iwuala drives into the box, but he takes a heavy touch and lets the ball get out of his control. That mistake allows East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill to close down the Nigerian forward, who ends up mistiming his shot.

40' EBFC 0-0 AASC

East Bengal's offensive oomph has dried out a little bit, with Al-Arabi now enjoying possession and passing it around the defence and midfield. A chance from a set piece for the visitors, cross into the box, but the header goes wide of goal. Good defending by East Bengal's Sandip Mandi.

39' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Another chance goes begging! A throughball from the midfield to Jesin TK, but instead of shooting, he ends up playing a cutback. However, Edmund Lalrindika had not made a run into the box! Should Jesin have gone for goal?

27' EBFC 0-0 AASC

It's Nigerian forward Anayo Iwuala who is at the heart of Al-Arabi's attack once again. He cuts in and shoots from a narrow angle, and for a second it seemed to have snuck in, but Prabhsukhan Gill collected it just in time.

East Bengal then come on the counter, but play has to be stopped as a player is down.

23' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Once again, East Bengal come on the attack. Jesin TK dribbles past a couple of defenders as he enters the box from the right wing, but he fails to cut it back to his teammates in time. The chance is cleared away by Al-Arabi.

A fair few openings by East Bengal in the opening 20 minutes, but they haven't been able to break the deadlock.

19' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Now it's time for Al-Arabi to attack. Nigerian forward Anayo Iwuala cuts in from the left, drives into the box and takes a low shot at goal, but it's just wide of the post. 

14' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Once again, East Bengal are on the front foot. A lovely long ball from the deep and Jesin TK was through on the left wing. He slows the play down as the defenders catch up, then combines with Dani Ramirez before firing in a cross, which wasn't a good one.

A minute later, East Bengal break on the counter, Jesin shoots from the left but it's straight at the goalkeeper.

11' EBFC 0-0 AASC

Lovely football from East Bengal! Edmund Lalrindika sends Jay Gupta through on the left, Jay's low cross is cleared but straight to Edmund on the edge of the box. He finds captain Mo Rashid, who takes a powerful shot but it's saved!

6' EBFC 0-0 AASC

WE ARE LIVE! The AFC Champions League Two playoff match between East Bengal and Al-Arabi is underway! East Bengal in their classic red and gold, Al-Arabi in all white.

1' EBFC 0-0 AASC

East Bengal isn't the only Indian club in action today. FC Goa is set to take on Turkmenistan club FK Arkadag in a similar playoff match in the AFC Champions League Two. That game starts at 8:30 PM IST, one-and-a-half hours after the start of East Bengal's game.

We are about 15 minutes away from kickoff at the Salt Lake Stadium, for the match between East Bengal and Al-Arabi. East Bengal will be hoping to make full use of their home advantage, with their passionate fans in the crowd.

East Bengal have a few fresh faces in their team for the 2026-27 season. Antonio Lopez Habas, who has coached their biggest rivals Mohun Bagan to success in the past, is their new manager. 

All eyes are also on their new Spanish midfielder Dani Ramirez, who is a product of Real Madrid's academy and has played for Valencia and Getafe in La Liga.

East Bengal finally won the Indian Super League (ISL) last season, ending 22 years of wait to win the top division of Indian football. That emotional triumph can be sweetened further today if they manage to qualify for a major continental tournament such as the AFC Champions League Two.

While East Bengal are vying to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two for the first time, they previously played the AFC Cup - the previous version of the ACL Two - on multiple occasions. East Bengal even became the first Indian team to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Cup, doing so in 2013. On that instance, it was another club from Kuwait, Al-Kuwait, who ended their journey.

East Bengal XI vs Al-Arabi: Prabhsukhan Gill (GK) | Hardik Bhatt, Anwar Ali, Sandip Mandi, Jay Gupta | Jeakson Singh, Mo Rashid, Dani Ramirez, Edmund Lalrindika, Bipin Singh | Jesin TK

Massive stakes in today's match, which is being held at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The winner of the clash gets a spot in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two group stage, something which East Bengal have never achieved in the past.

A very warm welcome to one and all to NDTV Sports, for the live coverage of the AFC Champions League Two qualifier match between Indian Super League champions East Bengal and Kuwaiti side Al-Arabi SC. It's a big match, as the winner gets direct entry to the ACL Two group stage.

Stay tuned for all the live updates from the match!