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Calcutta: Superb movement, coupled with sublime touches from the Persipura Jayapura players, stunned the East Bengal defence as early as in the third minute.

Then onwards, East Bengal’s young goalkeeper Jayanta Paul stood like a wall under the bar and forward Baljit Sahni equalised in the 47th minute to help the hosts draw 1-1 in their last AFC Cup Group H match here on Tuesday.

The result saw the red and gold brigade finishing at the bottom of the points table with three points from six matches.

The Indonesian side finished second in the group and they qualified for the knock-out stages.

Persipura went into the lead from a brilliant move involving Ian Kabes and Zah Rahan.

Ian and Zah played some beautiful touches between them, intersecting the East Bengal defence, before giving a perfect pass to Tibo who was waiting at the right post to tap in.

The goal left East Bengal shell-shocked and they found the going tough against the surging Persipura side. Captain Sanju Pradhan took the initiative to find the equaliser but strikers Sushil Singh and Robin Singh misfired incessantly.

With the defence lying dormant throughout the entire match, Jayanta came to the hosts’ rescue, pulling out outstanding saves.

In the 43rd minute, Jayanta saved a long-ranger from Tibo while Lukas Mandowem failed to get past the goalkeeper in the 61st minute, as the latter blocked his attempts — first with his body and then with his right foot.

In the meantime, Baljit found the equaliser for East Bengal in the 47th minute when he headed off a Sanju Pradhan cross from the right.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the red and gold brigade clawed back into the match.

They could have gone into the lead but squandered several attempts. Immediately afetr the equaliser, Nabi could not put his feet to a brilliant Ravinder Singh cross from the deep.

Four minutes later, Sushil could not net an easy chance — he took a long time before the Persipura defenders dislodged him. A minute later Persipura custodian Yoo Jae Hoon saved a Robin Singh shot.

Persipura could consider them unlucky when a Mandowem header found the crossbar. The Indonesian side showed some desperation but Jayanta again stood firm to deny Tibo and Stevie Bonsapia in the 81st and 62nd minute.

East Bengal finally heaved a sigh of relief after Jayanta put a hand to a Tibo shot and Harmanjyot Khabra made a goal line clearance.