Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan registered their first victory in the ONGC [Get Quote] I-League football championship, beating defending champions Dempo by a solitary goal at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda, Goa [Images], on Friday.
Jose Ramirez Baretto scored the all-important goal from a penalty in the 50th minute.
Bagan, who played with ten men for more than an hour after Ananadavasan was given marching orders on receiving his second yellow card, swelled their points tally to six from as many outings.
Dempo also have six points but from four matches.
Defender Valeriano Rebello was Dempo's hero and villain. First he was responsible for getting Ananadavasan sent off after being at the end of a harsh tackle. Ananadavasan had earlier brought down Ranti Martins.
Then, five minutes into the second session, he needlessly pushed Baichung Bhutia and invited a penalty, which Baretto slotted home easily.
Dempo were a wee bit better in the exchanges and were unlucky not to find the mark. Climax Lawrence was denied by the upright following a cross from Joaquim Abranches cross on the left in the second session and then Mboyo Iyomi was thwarted by goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.
Bagan defender Deepak Mondal was adjudged man of the match.
