Jakarta: East Bengal scripted history on July 26 by becoming the first Indian club to win any Asian-level football tournament when they demolished Thailand's BEC Terro Sasana 3-1 in the final of the LG ASEAN Cup in Jakarta.

The victory was even sweeter because BEC Terro is the champion club of Asia and had defeated East Bengal in the first league match of the tournament 1-0.

Burly Nigerian Mike Okoro opened the scoring for the red-gold brigade in the 30th minute, while Baichung Bhutia increased the tally in the 52nd minute before Alvito D'Cunha completed the rout in the 78th minute.

The lone goal for BEC Terro came in the 55th minute, through mid-fielder Anaikongopan.

Following this triumph, the Indian National Football League champions have played 93 matches against foreign teams, winning 44 and losing 27, with 22 games ending in stalemate. They have scored 153 goals while conceding 100 from opponents.

Bhutia emerged the highest scorer of the tournament with nine goals.

Bhutia, who was declared the man of the match, continued with his rich form and ended the tournament on a high with his solo second goal, which put the Thais firmly on the backfoot even as they were trying hard to nullify Okoro's strike.

On a quick counter-attack, Bhutia snatched the ball from Thai defender Thanongsak Pajakkta after a one-to-one battle. He went inside the box, pulled the goalkeeper out of position, and regaining his step after a slip, found the net with a firm right foot shot.

It was in the same Geloran Senayan stadium where India had won the Jakarta Asian Games gold medal in 1962.

PTI