East Bengal beat Nejmeh SC of Lebanon 3-2.© X/@eastbengal_fc
Dimitrios Diamantakos’ brace fired East Bengal FC into the knockout stage of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 because the ISL aspect edged previous Nejmeh SC of Lebanon 3-2 of their remaining Group A match at Thimphu, Bhutan Friday. East Bengal completed because the Group A winners on seven factors to seal development. The Red and Golds had received 4-0 in opposition to Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and drawn 2-2 with Paro FC (Bhutan) of their first two fixtures. East Bengal, who trailed Nejmeh by two factors heading into this encounter, took the lead within the eighth minute when Madih Talal’s nook kick was inadvertently headed into his personal web by Baba Musah on the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
The Indian aspect took additional benefit of Nejmeh’s sluggish begin to double their benefit within the fifteenth minute when Diamantakos scored for the third consecutive match when he prodded residence a low cross from Mahesh Naorem.
A shell-shocked Nejmeh, who had received their two earlier matches, fought again to rapidly pull one again three minutes later when Rabih Ataya lobbed the ball for Collins Opare to stab residence previous Prabsukhan Gill.
The Lebanese aspect rediscovered its confidence and drew stage two minutes earlier than half-time when Hussein Monzer bent an unstoppable free-kick into the highest nook to arrange an attractive second half.
Knowing defeat might imply elimination, each the groups adopted a extra cautious method within the second half though Nejmeh had been nonetheless capable of create a number of good possibilities.
Hassan Kourani missed an open purpose with a header within the forty seventh minute earlier than additional efforts from Mahdi Zein and Ataya had been safely dealt with by Gill as issues remained stage heading into the ultimate half an hour.
Then got here the defining level when Talal was introduced down within the field by Ali Ismail with Thai referee Songkran Bunmeekiart pointing to the spot. Diamantakos put away the spot-kick with ease to revive East Bengal’s lead within the 77th minute.
Nejmeh tried to mount one other comeback and put the East Bengal defence beneath strain for the remaining minutes however it was to no avail because the Indian Super League outfit held on to take the win and prime spot.
East Bengal will now have to attend to seek out out their quarter-final opponents after all of the AFC Challenge League group stage fixtures are over. The two-legged quarter-finals will happen on March 5 and 12.
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