I-League: Dempo give Bagan a five-star lesson

MARGAO: Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan were made to eat humble pie in their third round I-League clash against three-time champions Dempo Sports Club at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
Such was Dempo's domination, especially in the first half that Bagan should have been down by six goals in the first half hour itself but for the prodigality of strikers Ranti Martins and Joaquim Abranches.Nonetheless, the duo absolved themselves with a double strike each as the hosts flattened their opponents 5-0.
Bagan were out on a wing and a prayer much before the kick-off. Their most lethal weapons, strikers Odafe Okolie and Jose Ramirez Barreto, were forced to miss the key clash through injuries.
And though their absence ensured Sunil Chhetri's place in the starting eleven, the India striker was often left to fend for himself as the green and maroon's midfield was outplayed by Dempo's midfield generals especially Climax Lawrence and Peter Carvalho.
The defence led by skipper Mahesh Gawli was impregnable. And whenever, Chhetri did manage to get a close look at goal, keeper Subashish Roy Chowdhury proved more than equal to the task.
However, it was Dempo's strike duo of Ranti Martins and Joaquim Abranches that stole the show as the two turned predators to demolish Bagan's defence.