I-League: United SC beat East Bengal 1-0

United SC halted East Bengal unbeaten run in the I-League with Ranty Martin's second-half header earning the side an upset 1-0 win in a 12th round I-League fixture at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.

Returning to action in the I-League a week after their violence-marred derby, the last year's runners-up looked out of sorts as the Nigerian forward of the rival team scored from an angular header in the 75th minute to hand the side full points.

United climbed to fifth place with 17 points from 11 matches, while East Bengal (21) remained on third with the result of their derby clash against Mohun Bagan yet to be announced.

Churchill Brothers demolished Sporting Clube de Goa 8-4 in a high-scoring encounter as they came on level terms with Dempo after 11th round I-League encounter at the Fatorda Stadium.

Bineesh Balan struck a hat-trick in the first 40 minutes while Gabonese striker Henri and talented Brazilian midfielder Beto scored two goals each.

Lebanese striker Akram Moghrabi also joined the scoring party as the team registered their biggest win this season.

For Clube, diminutive Joseph Pereira scored two goals while Ogba Kalu and Japanese striker Seiya Sugishita scored the other two.

The big victory meant Churchill Brothers are now tied on points with defending champions Dempo Sports Club at the top of the table but will continue to be placed second due to their inferior head to head record with the defending champions.

Air India's dream of scoring an hat-trick of wins fizzled out when a brilliant individual effort from substitute Boithang Haokip earned Shillong Lajong a late 1-1 draw at Balewadi stadium.

Haokip's 85th minute effort cancelled out the 69th minute goal from Air India's Souvik Chakraborty in a match where little separated the two sides.