East Bengal upsets table-toppers Dempo

Finally Kolkata giant East Bengal got the taste of elusive victory that too after a long-long time as they recorded an upset solitary goal victory over table-toppers Dempo SC in a 13th round match of the I-League played at the Salt Lake stadium here on Sunday.

The all-important winning goal that sealed the fate of their mighty opponents came late in the 68th minute, thanks to Mahesh Gawli’s foot that brushed past Alvito D’Cunha astute free-kick on its way towards the goal.

The loss also upset Dempo’s tempo as Churchill Bros and JCT came closer to them with one and two points respectively behind Dempo’s 27. On the other hand, East Bengal sticks with the ninth position with 11 points, one point adrift of Viva Kerala that has eighth position in the point’s table.

The home made most of the wetty ground conditions while it was difficult for their Goan rivals to match up the pace of the match, which was slowed down due to sloppy field.

Both the teams didn’t produce any great chances while some good performance by the East Bengal custodian Subrata Paul under the bars saw Goan strikers Ranti Martins and Edeh Chidi at bay.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, resurgent Mohun Bagan’s was held to a goalless draw by spirited Air-India in an exciting 13th round I-League match at Cooperage.

The home team, which lost 0-2 in their first-leg encounter now has 15 points and settled at the sixth position, far away from the danger zone.