The Hindu : Sport : Mohun Bagan blanks Tollygunge Agragami

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Friday, May 06, 2005

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Sport

Mohun Bagan blanks Tollygunge Agragami

Special Correspondent

Sunil Chettri performs hat-trick

KOLKATA: Diminutive striker Sunil Chettri's hat-trick enabled Mohun Bagan win its penultimate National Football League match against Tollygunge Agragami 4-0 and took a firm step towards avoiding relegation here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday.

The win achieved with fair amount of ease in the face of lack of opposition from the already relegated Tollygunge Agragami meant Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers would decide the survivor between them in their last match.

The win gave Mohun Bagan three points bringing the Kolkata club on par with Churchill on points but ahead in goal difference. A draw would suffice for Mohun Bagan to stay in the elite league while Churchill would need a win to survive in an away match.

Both Mohun Bagan and Churchill had five wins, seven draws, nine losses and 22 points from 21 games.

Mohun Bagan had a goal difference of minus 3 (15 goals for as against 18 goals against) while the Goan club had minus 9 (22-31).

Former Tata Football Academy boy Jerry Zirsanga opened the account for Mohun Bagan in the eighth minute slamming home after a Rishi Kapoor shot rebounded off goalkeeper Arindam Ghosh's chest.

Chettri took over from there and struck thrice in the 29th, 59th and 62nd minutes.

Tollygunge refused to put up a fight and this obviously gave raise to doubts that Tollygunge allowed Mohun Bagan to win the match.

The club's secretary and coach refused to attach much importance to such claims.

UNI reports:

In Margao, a brace of goals by Nigerian Renty Martin helped Dempo Sports Club defeat Vasco Sports Club 2-0 and stay second.

The goals came in the 25th and 33 minutes of the first half. With this win, Dempo increased its tally to 44 points from 20 outings.

Vasco, which is virtually relegated, has 17 points from 21 matches and is placed 10th.

Dempo played true to its reputation and ran the Vasco defence ragged in the opening half, when it dominated the encounter.

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