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| EastBengal defeated Mariners 3-1 in the second phase of the National Football League. Mariners reduced to 10 men at 28th minute after referee gave marching order to Dharamjit, and further reduced to 9 men when Tomba got an injury at 82nd minute. Indian Captain Baichung Bhutia, Malsamtlunga and Gauranga Pal scored for EastBengal, where as MohunBagan captain Mehtab reduced the margin. | Barring a miracle, title hopes are almost over for the Mariners. East Bengal, playing their 200th NFL game, raced to 24 points from 11 matches to lead the table, while Mohun Bagan remained on 17 from 12 outings.
Opportunist Bhaichung drew first blood in the 48th minute and the lead was doubled when Shylo Malsawmtluanga scored in the 62nd minute.
Substitute and mariners' skipper Mehtab Hussain pulled one back in the 72nd minute, but young gun Gouranga Dutta hammered the final nail on Mohun Bagan’s coffin a minute from time.
Bhaichung not only put his team ahead but also contributed to the next two goals.
Mohun Bagan couldn’t match the pace in which East Bengal started, though the green-and-maroons squandered a lollypop in the very first minute.
A floater was headed in nicely by Sushil Kumar to set it up for an unmarked Awudu Ibrahim. Ibrahim, having all the time in the world, mishit it towards the touchline. | | <<< |
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