Scoring a goal in each half, star-studded Mohun Bagan defeated Viva Kerala 2-0 in the 11th round of the ONGC I-League tie at the Corporation Stadium here today.

Dominating the proceedings right from the start, the visitors seized the opportunity in the 35th minute when their captain Bhaichung Bhutia scored off a brilliant pass from Rehman Mondal.

Although Viva strikers Baba Tunde and Wisdom Abbey tried their best to bring in the equaliser, the Kolkatans, including custodian Sangram Mukherjee, played extremely well to deny any scoring opportunities. Substitute Ishaq Ahmed increased the margin for the visitors just before the final whistle.

With this win, Bagan have increased their tally to 17 points to be fourth in the table behind Dempo, JCT and Churchill Brothers while Viva with 12 points are in the seventh position in the 10-team league.

At Margao, riding on a three-goal effort by mercurial forward Ranty Martins, defending champions Dempo scored an emphatic 4-1 win over Sporting Club de Goa and maintained their unbeaten record in the league.

Martins struck in the 15th, 41st and 89th minutes while Edeh Chidi found the target in the 22nd minute for the winners. Substitute Freddy Mascarenhas reduced the margin for Sporting in the 63rd minute.

With this win, Dempo collected 27 points from 11 outings with eight wins and three draws to top the table while Sporting remain on 12 points.

Dempo shot into the lead in the 15th minute through Martins, who unleashed a rasping 25-yarder into the rival goal. Dempo once again tasted success through Edeh Chidi, whose header was right on target. Dempo further consolidated as Martins netted his second goal off a cross from Chidi. At half-time Dempo led 3-0.

After resumption, Sporting played with renewed vigour and reduced the margin in the 63rd minute through Mascarenhas.  A minute before the long whistle, Ranty scored his third to make it 4-1.