I-LEAGUE Media Team
NEW DELHI: All three top clubs Bengaluru FC, Salgaocar and Pune FC dropped points and Dempo made the most of the slip-ups in a make or break round of the Airtel I-League which has reached its climax with three more rounds to go before it is curtains.
While leaders Bengaluru FC and Pune FC unwillingly shared honours in a 1-1 draw, and Salgaocar lost to Rangdajied United FC, Arthur Papas’s Dempo SC made up lost ground with a clinical 4-1 win over lowly Churchill Brothers.
Rangdajied United – the Blues from Shillong – lived up to their name as the giant killers when they registered a comeback from behind win second-placed Salgaocar FC.
Not only that, following the Round, Kolkata giants East Bengal entered into the top 4 of the title-race, only to assure a dramatic finish to the season, with five games still in hand.
Leaders Bengaluru FC, currently on 38 points, had to be content with a 1-1 draw against Pune FC, in their last home game of this season. The debutantes got the lead in the 25th minute of the match itself, courtesy of Thoi Singh. However, the goal was cancelled by Anthony De Souza of Pune in the 73rd minute.
Although a point was shared by both teams, Pune FC moved down to the fifth spot.
Dempo registered a sensational 4-1 victory over Goan rivals Churchill Brothers, and more than anything, the talking point and the highlight of the match was Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey.
He scored all the 4 goals for Dempo, supposedly becoming the 1st player to score four goals in a match this season.
Rangdajied United rode on a fantastic brace by Ranti Martins in the 86th and the 90th minute of the match to come from behind and record a victory against Salgaocar FC, who were given the lead by Francisco Fernandes in the 81st minute.
In Kolkata, East Bengal notched a 2-1 win against Goan outfit Sporting Clube de Goa on Sunday. Baljit Sahni opened the scoring for the Red-and-Gold brigade at the stroke of half time, and his goal was followed by another from Lalrindika Ralte, who volleyed home from outside the 18-yard box, in the 65th minute.
The result took them up to the 4th position in the League table.
Shillong Lajong lost 2-1 against Mumbai FC in their last home match of the season on Sunday, while United SC and Mohammedan Sporting played out a 1-1 draw in Kalyani on Saturday.
TOP 3 Clubs after the Round:
Bengaluru FC — 38 points
Salgaocar FC — 34 points
Dempo SC — 31 points
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