Rampant Bagan storm into semis

Jose Ramirez Barretto and Muritala Ali slammed a hat-trick each for the Kolkatans as they set up a clash with I-League champions Dempo in the last-four stage.

Barreto grabbed two quick goals in the space of ten minutes, the first in the 12th minute off a header from a corner from captain Ishfaq Ahmed.

He then made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute. The game was pretty much put to bed when Muritala found his first goal a minute later.

A shell-shocked Salgaocar, who only needed a draw to make it to the semis, had no answer to Bagan’s attacking play as Barreto completed his hat-trick in the 34th minute to make it 4-0.

Muritala then found the back of the net six minutes later as Bagan went into the break 5-0 up, having already secured their place in the semifinals.

Bagan eased up in the second session, and Ryuji Sueoka took the opportunity to pull one back for Salgaocar in the 83rd minute. As if stung by that strike, Bagan sealed the rout as Muritala completed his hat-trick one minute from full time.

In the other match, Shillong Lajong and Mumbai FC played out a goalless draw.