Sporting chance after EB win

East Bengal today snatched the rights of the National Football League NFL title away from Dempo and threw open the race for the crown by b...

East Bengal today snatched the rights of the National Football League NFL title away from Dempo and threw open the race for the crown by beating Dempo 2-1 at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan here today. The result puts is Sporting Clube de Goa in the driver8217;s seat as all they have to do is beat Mahindra United in their last match see box.

There are many external factors coming into play, and one of them was in evidence today. Clifford Miranda, one of Dempo8217;s best players this season, looked completely off-colour and coach Armando Colaco found that too much of a coincidence given that he8217;s set to join East Bengal next season. Colaco called on the AIFF to put a stop to the practice of players being sounded out by the Kolkata clubs well before the end of the season, thereby inducing split loyalties.

Yet the match belonged to East Bengal, who were without several key players 8212; but those who played did so with flat out, especially Sandip Das and Gurpreet Singh.

The first goal came off a terrible mistake by Dempo skipper and stopper Stanley Colaco, who needlessly gifted possession to Ernest Jeremiah near his own box in the 19th minute. The Nigerian pounced on it and, Colaco in tow, went past Majek Bolaji and rifled home with his right foot from the edge of the box.

The Dempo defence was again caught out the half-hour mark, when Climax Lawrence found space on the right and sent in a low centre into the box. Jeremiah missed on the first post 8212; but in the process nobody saw Syed Rahim Nabi arrive on the blind side and slot home with his left foot.

Dempo got back their bearings in the second half and pulled one back in the 83rd minute, Miranda converting from the spot after M Suresh tripped Ranti inside the box.

THE EQUATION

Sporting, with 45 points from 21 matches, win NFL if they beat Mahindra

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Dempo, with 44 points in 21, must beat Tollygunge Agragami and hope Sporting lose to, or draw with, Mahindra

East Bengal have 43 points in 21; they must beat Vasco, hope Sporting lose and Dempo lose or draw