Dempo run rings around Pailan Arrows

Dempo, who met with stiff resistance from AIFF’s young guns in the first half, needed coach Armando Colaco’s masterstroke substitutions of Koko Sakibo (67th) and Godwin Franco (77th) to do the trick with the in-form Ranti Martins (73rd) accounting for the other goal.

The hosts controlled the match in the first half and enjoyed better ball possession but failed to penetrate the stubborn rival defence which put up some good resistance.

In Pune, Mohun Bagan got back to winning ways with a 5-1 victory over Mumbai FC at the Balewadi Sports Complex. A brace from Sunil Chhetri (32nd, 87th) and one each from Syed Rahim Nabi (23rd), Ashim Biswas (59th) and Jewel Raja (75th) helped the Kolkata team bounce back from the heavy defeat against Dempo. Ebi Sukore scored the lone goal for Mumbai in second-half stoppage time. Bagan lie third with 9 points while Mumbai are 12th with three points.

In Kolkata, East Bengal beat Shillong Lajong 2-0 with goals from Sanju Pradhan (30th) and Ugo Okpara (90th) at the Salt Lake stadium.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Air India beat Chirag United Kerala 2-1 at the University stadium. Air India’s forward Mandeep scored the first goal by converting a spotkick, awarded when Isaac Bokaye of Chirag impeded Sandesh Gadkari, in the 44th minute.

Air India scored their second goal when Gadkari bulged the net by blasting a freekick in the 53rd. Shabas Saleel scored Chirag’s consolation goal in the 77th minute.