Dec 13: A fine brace by man of the match Nicolau Borges aided Dempo Sports Club to sink Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the fifth round of the ONGC I-League at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda here on Wednesday.
Dempo’s Nicolau slotted in Bagan’s home in each half (15th and 71st minutes) to take its team’s tally to 13 points from five outings thus far. Dempo leading the I-League chart by remaining unbeaten with four wins and a draw, while Bagan remained on 4 points from the same number of outings.
Dempo strikers started the proceedings on an attacking note as they barged the rival citadel with flurry of attacks, Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva came close to put ahead his team with a stunner in the 15th minute that hit the cross bar. Their constant efforts paid in the very next move when Dempo surged ahead through Nicolau’s strike, who netted the ball in after receiving a fine cross from the right flank.
In reply, Bagan raided the rival goalmouth with series of attacks in search of parity goal. Bagan was bit unlucky as Jose Ramirez Baretto shot was tipped over by rival goalkeeper Sailesh Kumar, while Bhaichung Bhutia found his shot hit the post. Dempo led half-time with a single goal margin.
On resumption, Bagan keeper Shilton Paul was in the thick of action as he made two fine saves to deny Dempo extension of their lead. First he tipped the ball over off a goal-bound cross from the right by Anthony Pereira. Two minutes later, he again pushed the ball out off a Silva header from close.
Bagan pushed hard to find the equaliser but luck is not surely riding on their side with Baretto's header again hit the post in the 50th minute of the game.
On the other hand, Dempo kept on the pressure and doubled their lead in the 71st minute. This time Borges again slammed the ball into the empty net with a similar fashion. Down with two goals Bagan players tried their hard to stage any comeback into the match but their efforts went in vain.
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