Mohun Bagan crush Dempo 4-0 to clinch Super Cup

Gurgaon, May 27 (UNI) Mohun Bagan rode on three goals by Baichung Bhutia to inflict a crushing 4-0 defeat on NFL champion Dempo and lift the Super Cup here today.

The Kolkata giants were the deserved winners as they outplayed their opponents in all departments of the game in the first session and held on to their lead in the second in the season ending clash between Federation Cup winners and the NFL champions.

The Goan side sorely missed their striker Ranty Martin, besides their captain Roberto Mendis Silva (Beto) failing to inspire his teammates.

Baichung found the net in the eightth, 19th and 39th minute, while Lalampuia scored in the 38th minute. Bagan, who finished a disappointing eighth at the NFL, seized the initiative from the very beginning and as early as the sixth minute, a Lal Kamal Bhowmick through pass saw skipper Jose Ramirez Barreto breaking free ahead of his marker, but the Brazilian's low-angular shot to the goal was blocked by a diving Dempo goalkeeper Satish Kumar.

Two-minutes later, Baichung showed his class and put his team ahead. The Sikkimese, after collecting a pin-point flighted pass from Anit Kumar Ghosh, outfoxed a couple of defenders and blasted the ball from top of the box pass a diving goalkeeper in to the top corner of the net.

After the early jolt, Dempo went for offensive and got as many as four corners in no time, and they came close to scoring from one of them which Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul fisted away the ball before reaching Beto's head.

Baichung doubled the lead in the 19th minute heading home a Lal Kamal cross from the right. And then Lalampuia made it 3-0 in the 38th minute. The Mizo lad made the easiest of headers into an empty net after Bareto flicked the ball towards him from a corner kick.

Next minute, even as a full house stadium was applauding the third goal, Baichung won the ball from an opponent and shot home giving no chance to the on-rushing goalkeeper to complete his three goal tally in the season ending clash between the two champions.

The second half was not as action packed as the first and the play remained mostly in the mid-field. Dempo made some desperate moves towards the close to salvage their pride, but Bagan defenders were able to thwart their goal-bound attempts.

With this win, Mohan Bagan were richer by Rs 10 lakh, while Dempo did not add to their Rs 40 lakh NFL winner's purse.

UNI