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Kingfisher East Bengal beat Dempo SC 2-1 in the ninth round of the I League match played at the Salt Lake Stadium, here on Thursday.
In the 11 min Clifford Miranda scored for the visitors and gave the Goan side an early advantage. However, East Bengal players displayed gritty game and it seemed something was coming up.
Especially Man of the Match Penn Orji, who restored parity with a brilliant one-two with Tolgey Ozbey to score through a guided header past the helpless Dempo keeper in the 31st minute.
Tolgey who himself was not looking sharp early on, silenced his critics by dribbling past the Dempo’s left back and rounded the keeper to tap it in an open net to give decisive lead to the Red and Gold in 41st minute.
East Bengal played a very attacking style of football in front of the home fans, especially their defense played a much disciplined game, making it difficult for Dempo forwards to get past them.
A brilliant Messi-like run by Penn in the second half through the left-flank shrugged of two defenders with sheer strength and pace and but eventually ball went over the bars.
Though Tolgey was substituted midway through injury and was given standing ovation by the home fans.
The defeat leaves Dempo SC at 21 points from 9 matches, just one point more than Churchill Brothers, who have 20 points in their kitty from the same number of matches.
While, East Bengal is now level on points with their arch rivals Mohun Bagan on 19 points but are ahead on goal average.
