By IANS
Kolkata : East Bengal got a big boost for themselves, clinching a 1-0 win over I-League leaders Dempo SC at the Salt lake Stadium here Sunday.
The all-important goal came in the 68th minute when a crafty free kick from Alvito d’Cunha curled in and entered the net deflecting off Mahesh Gawli’s boots.
The win also upset the Goan team’s rhythm with Churchill brothers and JCT coming within the striking distance with one and two points respectively behind Dempo’s 27.
With Viva Kerala losing to Mahindra United and Sporting Clube de Goa just managing a draw, things looks precariously close in the drop zone. Bengal’s win puts their tally at 11 points with three wins. They are now one point short of Viva and two points behind Sporting.
The wet conditions of the ground also went to home team’s favour that slowed the pace of the match and killed off the mid-field creativity of Dempo with Alvito, Mehtab Hossain and Anupam Sarkar working overtime. Majek Bolaji in defence looked rock solid.
Neither of the teams produced any great chances and some brave-hearted goal keeping from Subrata Paul saw that Ranti Martinez and Edeh Chidi were kept at bay.
Dempo nearly got the equaliser in the dying minutes of the game when Ranti found Anthony Borges in the open with Paul already committed. But the latter shot over the crossbar.
However, what will continue to worry the home team is that they did not threaten the rival defence with lone Edmilson well covered by Samir Naik, Mahesh Gawli and Anthoy Borges.
In the first half, Edmilson got a chance to score within the six-yard box but he was brought down by the rival goalie and his appeal for a penalty went in vain.
While East Bengal played via counterattacks, Dempo tried to counter the sluggish underfooting with long aerial shots, a tactic that failed miserably.