East Bengal ride Diamantakos brace to knock out Mohun Bagan

Set Durand Cup semifinal against Diamond Harbour

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KOLKATA: A revamped East Bengal, inspired by Greek striker and substitute Dimitrios Diamantakos' double strike, stunned archrivals Mohun Bagan 2-1 in a fiery Kolkata Derby to storm into the semifinals of the 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup here on Sunday.

Diamantakos, brought on as an 18th-minute substitute after Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad limped off injured, turned out to be the gamechanger.

The 32-year-old first converted from the penalty spot in the 38th minute before doubling East Bengal's lead seven minutes into the second half with a sharp finish that left the ISL champions' defence flat-footed.

Though Anirudh Thapa pulled one back with a stunning long-range strike in the 68th minute, East Bengal's resolute backline, held firm to script their first top-level Derby win over Mohun Bagan in more than 18 months.