Sporting Club Goa stuns East Bengal 3-1, Mahindra wins NFL title

Margao, May 8 (UNI) Former champion East Bengal's title hopes were dashed today as they went down to Super Cup winners Sporting Club de Goa by1-3 and paved the way for Mahindra United to clinch their maiden NFL title in the second leg ONGC Cup 10th National Football league championship match here tonight.

Sporting thus avenged the 3-4 defeat they had suffered in the first leg clash in the away match. East Bengal, even if they win their last match against JCT in Kolkata on May 15, can not surpass the jeepmen's total.

Edeh Chidi in the 11th minute, Hardeep Saini in the 32ndminute and Dudu Omagbhemi in the 35th minute, scored for Sporting Club de Goa. Baichung Bhutia scored the lone goal for East Bengal in the 18th minute of the first half.

Sporting, with today's win, increased their points tally to 22 and moved on to the fourth spot below league leaders Mahindra United (32), East Bengal (28) and Dempo (23).

The home team played a spirited game with emphasis on attack.

Their forwards tore open the visitors defence repeatedly in the opening half and Sporting held complete sway over the proceedings and shot into the lead as early as in the 11th minute through Nigerian Edeh Chidi. The goal was a result of a fine combined move when Nicholas Borgues passed to Hardeep Saini who quickly passed to better-placed Chidi who found the net. 1-0.

Shocked by the early debacle, East Bengal counter-attacked and levelled the score in the 18th minute through Bhaichung Bhutia who after collecting a pass from Malswant Lunga made a perfect placement at the far corner of the net. 1-1.

Sporting consolidated their lead in the 32nd minute through Hardeep Saini, whose powerpacked shot from the top of the box gave no chance to rival goakeeper and found the net. 2-1. It was a good pass from Chidi.

Dudu Omagbhemi scored the third goal for his team in the 35th minute. He neatly headed in, following a flag kick taken by Nicholas Borgues. 3-1.

The second half did not witness much of action. Medio Hardeep Saini of Sporting Club de Goa was adjudged the Man of the Match today.

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