Dimitrios Diamantakos fired East Bengal into the quater-finals of the AFC Challenge League after scoring a brace in their 3-2 win against Nejmeh SC of Lebanon in their final Group A match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on Friday.

East Bengal finished as the Group A winners on seven points to seal progression.

East Bengal, who trailed Nejmeh by two points heading into this encounter, took the lead in the eighth minute when Madih Talal’s corner kick was inadvertently
headed into his own net by Baba Musah.

The Oscar Bruzon-coached side took further advantage of Nejmeh’s slow start to double their advantage in the 15th minute when Diamantakos scored for the third consecutive match when he prodded home a low cross from Naorem Mahesh Singh.

Nejmeh fought back to quickly pull one back three minutes later when Rabih Ataya lobbed the ball for Collins Opare to stab home past Prabhsukhan Gill.

The Lebanese side rediscovered their confidence and drew level two minutes before half-time when Hussein Monzer bent an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner to set up an enticing second half.

Then Talal was brought down in the box by Ali Ismail with Thai referee Songkran Bunmeekiart pointing to the spot. Diamantakos put away the spot-kick with ease to restore East Bengal’s lead in the 77th minute.

Coach Bruzon hoped this performance would boost the team’s confidence in the ISL-XI. Senior club official Debabrata Sarkar congratulated the team.

The two-legged quarter-finals will take place on March 5 and 12 next year. East Bengal are in the knock-out round in Asia after 11 years.