The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal bounces back to beat Dempo

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Monday, Apr 17, 2006

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Sport - Football

East Bengal bounces back to beat Dempo

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Dempo's Ranty Martins' misery in front of the goalmouth enabled East Bengal bounce back from a goal down in the 36th minute and win 3-1 in a 10th National Football League match here.

The Nigerian, top-scorer till Sunday's away game at the Cooperage, missed three sitters after Johny D'Cruz put it ahead in the first-half.

East Bengal's Baichung Bhutia, Syed Rahim Nabi and Dipankar Roy punished a stunned defence with a goal each, the three strikes in the second session turning the match on its head.

East Bengal on top

East Bengal has 27 points from 12 matches and is now on top of the standings. The Kolkata team's next away game is against Mahindra United, which is second with 23 points from 11 games.

East Bengal captain Bhutia is clear about the big game ahead. "Mahindra is a great side, with players in every position. It will be a big game for us," said the striker, delighted at the turnaround against Dempo, the defending champion.

Dempo seemed to be cruising to a runaway victory when diminutive D'Cruz, lurking around teammate and central striker Martins, stabbed home a Samir Naik throw-in for the first goal.

D'Cruz set up Martins twice with clever passes on the run, both times the NFL's star forward missed.

Alvito D'Cunha's second half entry made East Bengal look a different team after the breather. Nabi's tricky runs were a delight and Dempo's passive tackling after having slowed down the pace was perplexing. Bhutia lashed in a 67th minute equaliser, the ball deflecting in off a defender's leg.

Dempo lost momentum, Nabi and Dipankar tapped in off counter-attacks as the Kolkata side stepped up pace and creating openings with swift, short passing bouts. Nabi was named `man of the match.' Dempo remains on 19 points after 12 games and out of reckoning for the title.

"Ranty saved up in many matches with timely goals, today he missed chances. We have to accept these things," reasoned Dempo coach Colaco, trying to explain his main forward's horrifying show. "Over the last few games, East Bengal has been coming back after being a goal down, which is encouraging," said Bhutia, now the joint top scorer with 10 goals.

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