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In a thrilling end to their Group A journey, East Bengal FC advanced to the knockout stage of the AFC Challenge League 2024/25 with a crucial 3-2 victory over Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium on Friday. Dimitrios Diamantakos’s stunning brace helped East Bengal secure first place as Group A winners with seven points. The two-legged quarterfinals will be played on March 5 and 12, 2024.
East Bengal entered the match as underdogs, trailing Nejmeh by two points. However, they were confident after a solid group stage performance in the first two games. In the last match, they had defeated Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh by 4-0 before drawing 2-2 against Bhutan's Paro FC, setting the stage for a decisive showdown against the unbeaten Nejmeh.
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Goal fest in first-half
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The game started on an intense note with East Bengal capitalizing on Nejmeh's early defensive vulnerabilities. In the 8th minute of the game, Nejmeh’s Baba Musah accidentally scored an own goal from Madih Talal's corner. The early lead was all East Bengal had needed to build the momentum.
Building on their early momentum, East Bengal doubled their advantage in the 15th minute. Mahesh delivered a low cross, which Diamantakos converted for his third goal in three consecutive games.
However, teams like Nejmeh never go without a fight. The team from Lebanon responded quickly to narrow the deficit. In the 18th minute, Rabih Ataya set up Collins Opare for their first goal. Then, at the stroke of half-time, they levelled via Hussein Monzer's stunning free-kick.
East Bengal held their nerve in second-half
The stakes were high, and both teams knew that they would qualify for the final eight of the tournament. Nejmeh came close to taking the lead in the 47th minute when Hassan Kourani missed an open goal with a header. Gill then made two important saves against Mahdi Zein and Ataya as East Bengal clung to their defensive lines.
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In the 77th minute, East Bengal seized the defining moment of the match. Talal was brought down in the penalty area by Ali Ismail, prompting Thai referee Songkran Bunmeekiart to award a penalty. Diamantakos, with composure, converted from the spot to give East Bengal the lead they were looking for.
Despite Nejmeh’s attempts to find an equalizer in the closing minutes, East Bengal’s defence held firm, sealing a 3-2 victory and top position in Group A. The Red and Gold brigade will have to wait to know their opponents for the quarter-finals which will take place on March 5 and 12, 2024.