Beirut: Lebanon League champions Al Nejmeh claimed their first win in Group D of the AFC Cup after easing to a 3-0 win against India's East Bengal at Beirut Sports City Stadium on Wednesday.
Al Nejmeh took the lead on 19 minutes through Senegalese striker Makhete Diop before Abbas Atwi doubled the lead four minutes later.
And Bilal El Najjarine’s 48th minute penalty sealed the three points three minutes into the second hald as Al Nejmeh joined Al Ittihad on four points at the top of the table after the Syrians shared a goalless draw with Al Qadsia.
With East Bengal suffering a second consecutive defeat, the Indian side sit at the foot of the table with Al Qadsia on two points after a second draw in two games. Al Nejmeh came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes whenMouhamad Chamass fired just wide of the left hand upright before another chance arrived just two minutes later with East Bengal goalkeeper Abhra Mondal denying Diop.
However, the best chance of the opening exchanges fell to East Bengal after six minutes when Singam Subash Singh broke into the area and struck the Al Nejmeh upright.
Despite the close call, Al Nejmeh continued to press and again came close after 13 minutes but Mondal again denied Diop.
But Al Nejmeh’s pressure paid after 19 minutes when Ali Hamam crossed for Diop to head home before the hosts doubled their advantage just four minutes later with Akram Moghrabi setting up midfielder Atwi, who beat Mondal with a first time shot.
The home side’s pressure continued and Al Nejmeh came close to a third six minutes before half-time when Mondal beat away Atwi’s free-kick before Pape Cisse tried his luck a minute later but failed to find the target.
Al Nejmeh’s domination continued after the break and the home side extended their advantage as defender El Najjarine made no mistake from the penalty spot.
The home side continued to push forward and came close to a fourth two minutes after the hour mark but Diop fired wide before compatriot Cisse also missed the target.
Al Nejmeh should have extended their advantage three minuets later but Mondal turned away Moghrabi’s well-struck shot before Diop rattled the East Bengal crossbar in the closing stages.
good job by laal holud biswa
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