East Bengal trounce Dempo 3-1

MUMBAI, Apr 16: Down by a first-half goal, leaders East Bengal made a splendid rally to whip holders Dempo Sports Club, Goa, 3-1 in the 10th National Football League at the Cooperage ground here on Sunday.
After being in arrears following a 35th minute strike by the crafty Johnny D'Cruz, the glamour outfit from Kolkata pumped in three goals in 21 minutes after making telling second-half substitutions to emerge convincing victors.
The goal-getters for the red and yellow brigade were captain Bhaichung Bhutia (64th minute), who was marked out in the first half, man of the match Syed Rahim Nabi (71st) and substitute Dipankar Roy (80th).
Dempo have to blame their foreign recruit Ranti Martins for the loss as the striker was guilty of spurning three gilt-edged chances after the Goans went ahead.
Martins, the top goal-scorer in the league with ten to his credit going into today's tie, muffed sitters in the 40th, 45th and 60th minutes of the tie - with the East Bengal defence at his mercy.
This was East Bengal's eighth win and took their points tally to 27 from 12 games, thus maintaining their four-point advantage over second placed Mahindra United of Mumbai.
Dempo remained in fifth spot with 19 points from 13 matches. It was their fourth loss in the league.