Bagan out-run, outplayed

The first attack came from Bagan, captain Jose Ramirez Barreto creating an opening with a through ball into the penalty box in the 10 th minute, but that was thwarted easily.

As the tournament’s biggest crowd so far settled down in the sun-bathed Ambedkar Stadium, Dempo settled down in their own game, with captain Beto manning the midfield steering wheel with authority.

The pace and ball control of Clifford Miranda and Jerry Zirsanga — on the left and right flanks — troubled the Kolkata team’s defence all through.

But it was probably an unlucky first goal to concede. A regulation shot from Beto in the 20 th minute from just outside the penalty area bounced awkwardly in front of Bagan keeper Sangram Mukherjee, and the ball sailed in, kissing his palm en route.

In the 32nd minute Barreto ran in with the ball from the right and fell inside the penalty box. Bagan claim of a trip was ignored by the referee.

Bagan brought in Lal Kamal Bhowmik after the break, but it failed to conjure the same effect he had, coming in against Sporting Clube de Goa.

Instead, to their absolute horror, they conceded again. Ranty Martins’ free-kick from just outside the box deflected off the wall into the path of the running in Anthony Perreira, who made no mistake with his shot.

It was one-way traffic from there on, and the inevitable final whistle coming soon enough, the Bagan fans were only left jeering.

After the over-running passion and energy in the first game, the second just had to be a degree less.

JCT Mills and Sporting Clube de Goa came out and put up an entertaining show, but it was the end that was the most dramatic. Sporting Clube had the better possession statistics and more attacks in the first half — Earnest Jeremiah with some breathtaking runs and set-ups from the left flank.

JCT put up an improved show in the second, but it could’ve been all over in the last minute of normal time. Sporting Clube’s Dudu ran into the penalty box with the ball, with JCT keeper Kalyan Chowbey well off his line.

Luckily, Harpreet Singh arrived in time to clear the ball. Both teams sat back in defence in the 30-minute extra period.

But it was the one fluent attempt by JCT that settled it.

Parveen Kumar set it up for Edeh Chidi after a pass from Sukhjinder Singh, and even before the Sporting Clube defence could react, the Nigerian had slammed it in and run away with delight.

…And the coach quits

New Delhi: Defeat for a Kolkata big team comes with strings attached. Today’s loss for Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup semi-final to Dempo FC has claimed the job of coach Biswajit Bhattacharya. That’s the situation so far, till officials back home decide on his resignation letter. Bhattacharya said after the defeat that he accepted responsibility for the defeat, saying: “The team’s defeat is my defeat. If they have lost, it means there was something wrong in how I coached them. So I have tendered my resignation. I am yet to hear from the officials.” Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra did not answer his phone. — ENS