East Bengal beat Dempo 3-1 in I-League

A rampant East Bengal downed Goan football club Dempo 3-1 to climb to fourth spot in the I-League standings at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday.

The home side, on a rainy afternoon, dominated possession and struck as early as in the 22nd minute through Nigerian striker Dudu Omagbemi. Three minutes later his countryman Ranti Martins doubled the lead with a powerful header.

Shylo Malsawmtluanga scored in the second half as his screamer found the back of the net for East Bengal.

Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey pulled one back for the visitors (84th minute) as he converted a penalty.

The opening few minutes witnessed two cautious sides getting a measure of each other but the hosts then stepped on the gas with Martins having the first chance. His weak bicycle kick was easily collected by the rival custodian.

A few minutes later it was Dudu who put East Bengal in to the lead, chipping one delicately over the rushing goalie, Laxmikant Kattimani.

In the 25th minute, it was Martins' turn to get on the scoresheet as he powerfully headed the ball onto the post. The ball was on its way out but it went in after ricocheting from the back of Kattimani. The visitors went into the dressing room 0-2 down at halftime.

Thereafter, Dempo tried hard staging a comeback but it was the red-and-gold brigade who put them on the back foot as a stunning strike from Malsawmtluanga from the edge of the area found the net rattling.

Just when everyone thought it would be a 3-0 result, Ozbey pulled one back for Dempo by calmly converting from the spot, placing it past a diving Abhijit Mondal. Gurwinder Singh was yellow carded for the offence on Sushil Singh which yielded the spot-kick.