East Bengal to clash with Dempo in NFL on Apr 16

Mumbai, Apr 15 (UNI) League leaders East Bengal will have their hands full when they clash with defending champions Dempo, who are on a winning streak at the moment, in an ONGC NFL tie at the Cooperage ground here tomorrow.

East Bengal are sitting pretty at the top of the table with 24 points from eleven games. Tomorrow's tie will be a keenly fought encounter against the top Goan outfit, who are lying fifth with 19 points after having played an extra match.

The match will also pit the top two scorers of the league -- frontrunner Ranti Martins (10 goals) of Dempo and East Bengal stalwart Bhaichung Bhutia (9) and the one who comes out on top will see his team emerge victorious in this needle clash.

Both the players, who are the conjurors of hat-tricks in the tournament so far, are in fine form during this season.

The chances of the two teams will depend on their defence, mainly how well they can mark the two strikers and be able to choke the two effectively. If either of the two can break the shackles of tight marking on them, it would be advantageous for the team to create extra space for the other strikers in the team.

This match would also be a type of revenge match for Dempo as they had lost to the Kolkata giants in the first leg at Salt Lake stadium in March.

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