tournament. Group stage East Bengal FC was drawn in Group A along with Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia and Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian of Indonesia. Matches 1998–99 Asian Club Championship East Bengal took part in the 1998–99 Asian Club Championship after finishing runners-up of the 1997–98 National Football League and was drawn against Chinese giants Dalian Wanda FC in the first round. On 19 September 1998, East Bengal travelled to Dalian, China for the first leg of the tie and suffered a 6–0 loss, their heaviest defeat in continental competitions to this date. China national team forward Wang Tao scored a hat-trick for the Chinese side. In the return leg on 3 October 1998, East Bengal managed to hold on to a 0–0 draw at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri and were eliminated from the competition. Matches Asian Cup Winners' Cup The Asian Cup Winners' Cup was a football competition run by the Asian Football Confederation. The competition was started in 1991 as a tournament for all the domestic cup winners from countries affiliated to the AFC. In India, the winners of the Durand Cup used to participate in the tournament. East Bengal took part in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup five times, reaching the quarter-finals in their maiden appearance in 1991–92. 1991–92 Asian Cup Winners' Cup East Bengal qualified for the 1991–92 Asian Cup Winners' Cup by winning the 1991 Durand Cup. The 1991 season also saw East Bengal, under the coaching of Syed Nayeemuddin, win the Calcutta Football League without even conceding a single goal throughout the tournament. East Bengal was drawn against Abhani Krira Chakra of Bangladesh in the first round of the tournament. In the first-leg, away at the Bangabandhu Stadium, East Bengal drew goalless against a resolute Abahani side. In the return leg at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal managed to grab a 1–0 victory with Bikash Panji scoring the solitary winner for the Red and Gold brigade as they reached the Quarter-finals where they faced Nissan FC of Japan, who would eventually go on to become the Champions of the tournament. In the first-leg, playing home at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal was beaten 1–3 by the 1991 Emperor's Cup champions and in the return leg, East Bengal lost 4–0 and was eliminated from the tournament. Matches 1993–94 Asian Cup Winners' Cup East Bengal qualified for the 1993–94 Asian Cup Winners' Cup by