A solitary goal by Brazilian Jose Barreto fetched full points and honour for Mohun Bagan as the city giants overcame a fighting Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in a Kolkata Super Division football league derby on Thursday.
Barreto, perfecting the role of saviour for the green and maroon brigade, scored the winner in the 29th minute when he latched on to a Renedy Singh long ball and shot home with a rasping left footer from inside the rival box.
Bagan, who finished the preliminary phase of the league with 27 points from 11 matches, missed an easy chance to increase the scoreline minutes after the Barreto strike.
Renedy was fed by the Brazilian inside the opponent's box but failed to convert despite being in an advantageous position.
Sporting, yet to digest the 1-4 drubbing by East Bengal in the last match, were not at its full strength due to the absence of three first benchers including Syed Rahim Nabi.
Skipper Dipendu Biswas, who scored a consolation goal against East Bengal, failed to carry out the responsibilities well and, in fact, wasted the only positive chance that came their way in the second half as he failed to find the target from close after being fed by a Amjad Ali Khan centre.
Sporting, who played their 10th match, remained with 18 points.
East Bengal thrash Port Trust 3-0
East Bengal completed their preliminary league engagements in style, thrashing Kolkata Port Trust 3-0.
Skipper Suley Musah, prolific striker Mike Okoro and substitute Kuluthungan scored a goal each to earn full points in the one-sided match at the home ground.
East Bengal, who trounced Railway FC 4-0 in the last outing, broke the ice in the 35th minute and took a 2-0 lead before the breather.
Musah, playing alongside Okoro upfront in absence of Baichung Bhutia, was fed by a nice through pass from Sashthi Duley and slotted home with a measured right footer.
Nigerian Okoro, who slammed a hat-trick in the last outing, increased the scoreline in the 44th minute by converting a Chandan Das centre from left with a fine header.
Not impressed with a 2-0 margin, East Bengal kept up the pressure and drove the last nail into the coffin of the Port Trust men in the 85th minute when hard working medio Kuluthungan headed in a measured Okoro centre from right.
Port Trust, who focussed on thwarting rival attempts for most part of the match, missed the only positive chance that came their way in the 75th minute when Amar Pyne's shot from inside the box was denied by the woodwork.
The red and gold brigade, who topped the league table with 33 points from 11 exchanges, will now vie for their second consecutive league title in the matches of the elite super six round.
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