Chidi Edeh scored a hat-trick as East Bengal romped into the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup with a 5-1 demolition of Myanmar's Yangon United here Wednesday.
Nigerian midfielder Penn Orji opened the scoring for unbeaten Group H winners East Bengal after just two minutes at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium before Edeh added a second midway through the first half.
East Bengal captain Mehtab Hossain extended the advantage three minutes after half-time before Edeh added a fourth with 18 minutes remaining.
And Edeh sealed his hat-trick with his sixth goal of the campaign five minutes later as East Bengal became the first Indian side to reach the last eight of the AFC Cup since Dempo SC advanced to the semi-finals in 2008 after posting a fifth win in seven games.
Yangon had only finished second in Group F behind Maldivian side New Radiant on goal difference after posting five wins, but only had a 79th minute consolation from Brazilian striker Cezar (Cezar Augusto Hermenegildo) to show for their efforts.
