Dimitrios Diamantakos’ brace fired East Bengal FC into the knockout stage of the AFC Problem League 2024-25 because the ISL facet 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 Crimson and Golds had gained 4-0 towards 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 internet by Baba Musah on the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.

The Indian facet took additional benefit of Nejmeh’s gradual begin to double their benefit within the fifteenth minute when Diamantakos scored for the third consecutive match when he prodded house a low cross from Mahesh Naorem.

A shell-shocked Nejmeh, who had gained their two earlier matches, fought again to shortly pull one again three minutes later when Rabih Ataya lobbed the ball for Collins Opare to stab house previous Prabsukhan Gill.

The Lebanese facet rediscovered its confidence and drew degree two minutes earlier than half-time when Hussein Monzer bent an unstoppable free-kick into the highest nook to arrange an attractive second half.

Understanding 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 probabilities.

Hassan Kourani missed an open aim 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 degree 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 below strain for the remaining minutes but it surely was to no avail because the Indian Tremendous 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 Problem League group stage fixtures are over. The 2-legged quarter-finals will happen on March 5 and 12.

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