Bengal became the first team to ensure a berth in the quarter-final of the ongoing Swami Vivekananda under-20 men's national football championship.

They trounced Uttarakhand 3-0 at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground in Narainpur on Tuesday. Ahead of the last match day in Group E, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu were the other two sides vying for a last-eight berth. 

However, the latter could only earn a last-gasp draw against already-eliminated Punjab to bow out of the tournament. 

Bengal took an early lead in the must-win clash after Santanu Naskar scored in the third minute. Rahul Naskar and Shibam Munda added a second and a third in the 60th and 69th minute, respectively. The former is West Bengal's top scorer in the tournament so far with three goals. 

While the winners finished as the top in their group with seven points, Uttarakhand ended their campaign in third place with a solitary win over Punjab on the opening day to their name.

Bengal will face the winner of Group C in the first quarter-final on 19th April.