Prayag stun Bagan; Dempo, E Bengal win big

Prayag United shocked high-flying Mohun Bagan 3-2 to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in the I-League, at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.

Fresh from their derby win over bitter foes East Bengal, Mohun Bagan drew first blood, but Prayag bounced back, riding on a double strike from Ghanaian forward Yusif Yakubu, who scored in the 54th and 56th minute.

Yakubu, who had set up Shankar Oraon in the 42nd minute for their first goal, was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.

Mohun Bagan, who scored through Snehasish Chakrabarty (21st minute) and Odafa Okolie (46th), were heavily reliant on the Nigerian goal machine who was not at his best and replaced in the second half.

Prayag United have 13 points and are placed second after leaders Dempo.

Mohun Bagan remain on 15 points.

Dempo crush Shillong Lajong

Dempo Sports Club opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table after demolishing Shillong Lajong FC 5-0 in a seventh round match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa.

Shillong Lajong coach Pradhyuman Reddy had relished the prospect of having an "open contest". But the visitors were left gasping for breath as Dempo registered their seventh consecutive victory in the competition.

Dempo led 3-0 at the breather, with a brace of goals from Anthony Pereira and one from Nigerian striker Koko Sakibo.

In the second session, Ranty Martins and Clifford Miranda added to Lajong's misery.

Dempo were always the favourites in this clash, but the manner in which the former champions attacked right from the word go would have surprised Lajong. The short-passing game was always going to be Dempo's main weapon but it turned out that the killer long balls, in the end, made all the difference.

Mumbai FC shock unbeaten Sporting Clube de Goa

Mumbai FC cashed in on the chances they got and survived a late charge to beat Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 and register their second victory in seven games.

Ebi Sukore Thephlius provided the breakthrough in added time of the first half, when he converted a penalty after being brought down in the box, but it was man-of-the-match Gbeneme Friday who reveled under the conditions as Mumbai FC left hitherto unbeaten Sporting Clube desperately looking for answers.

Friday scored the second goal five minutes into the second half leaving Sporting stunned by the reverse, from which they struggled to come out.

But Victorino Fernandes came up with a late reducer off a corner that infused spark in the Goan frontline. There were at least three real chances in those last five minutes when Sporting looked like scoring the equalizer, but Mumbai FC must thank its stars that the match landed in their lap.

East Bengal rout HAL

East Bengal put up a spirited show after their loss to Mohun Bagan to maul HAL Bangalore 8-1.

Making a comeback, Aussie striker Tolgay Ozbey notched four goals, defender Uga Okpara got a brace, while stkers Robin Singh and Baljit Saini accounted for the other goals.

Hamza got HAL's only goal from a penalty after Robert Lalthama tripped him inside the penalty box.