Penalty goal enables Mohan Bagan to pip Dempo 1-0

Margao, Oct 31 (UNI) A penalty goal by Brazilian Jose Rameraz Baretto in the second half enabled Mohan Bagan to edge out reigning champions Dempo Sports Club 1-0 and register their first win in the ONGC I League championship match, played at Nehru stdium Fatorda here today.

The all-important goal for ten-men Bagan team came in the 50th minute, which ultimately turned out to be the match winner.

Dempo could have won outright had their forwards were quick in grasping the advantages that came before them in both the halves, but they faultered at a crucial juncture.

Bagan were reduced to ten-men army in the 28th minute of the first half when their medio, Anand Vasan, was booked with second yellow card. The refree gave him a marching order.

Bagan played with 10 men for almost 62 minutes.

In the fast-paced first half, both the teams missed several chances. However, Dempo had an edge.

In the 11th minute of the first half, Dempo's Anthony Pereira initiated the first move by passing the ball to Renty Martin, who in quick succession switched it over to Mboyo Iyomi who hit a shot only to went wide at the goal.

In the counter attack, Mohan Bagan's Jose Baretto passed the ball to Marcos Pereira who after dodging past rival defender Valerian Rebello passed to better-placed Bhaichung Bhutia, who faultered at a crucial juncture.

In the next minute, Bagan had another chance to score but Barreto's volley hit the side net and went wide.

In the 20th minute, Dempo came near scoring when Anthony Pereira floated a direct free kick towards Renty Martin, whose header failed to connect. Then, in the 38th minute, Nascimento Silveira initiated a move and passed to Martin whose feeble shot went wide.

Five minutes before the breather, Mohan Bagan could have surged ahead had Ishfaq Ahmed sent a well measured pass to Bhutia, whose attempted try missed the goal by a whisker.

A minute before the half time, Dempo had a golden opportunity to score, when their Cliford Miranda passed to Mboyo who in quick succession passed to Renty Martin. But his shot was smartly blocked by Bagan goalkeepr Sangram Mukharjee and went for an abortive corner and at half time scoreboard remained blank.

After change over, Mohan Bagan shot into the lead off a penalty goal in the 50th minute by Jose Rameraj Barreto. Refree Pradeep Kumar awarded a penalty in favour of Bagan when Bhaichung Bhutia was brought down in the penalty area by Dempo defender Valerian Rebello, who was dangerously moving with the ball. Barreto converted the spot kick correctly to make it 1-0.

Stung by a debacle, Dempo accelerated the pace of the game and made some desperate attempts for the equaliser and came with three splendid moves in the 65th, 80th and 85th minutes. In the 65th minute, Pereira gave a floating free kick pass to Mboyo, whose header was well saved by rival goalkeeper Sangram Mukharjee by diving to his left. Then in the 80th minute, sustitute Joaquim Abracnhe's 25 yarder shot sailed over the bar and in the 85th minute, Joaquim again initiated a move and passed the ball to Climax Lawrence whose header rebounded after hitting the cross bar.

Mohan Bagan's Deepak Kumar Mondal was today adjudged the man of the match.

With today's win, Mohan Bagan increased their point tally to six points from six outings, one win, three draws and two defeats. While, Dempo reamined on the six points from four outings, with two wins and two defeats.

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