Bagan favourites in final

Defending champions Mohun Bagan will take on underdogs Arambagh Krira Chakra of Bangladesh in the final of the Governor's Gold Cup football tournament, at the Baichung Bhutia stadium in South Sikkim's Namchi, on Saturday.

Bagan, seven times winners of the title, will bank on a tactical game from their experienced and technically superior players compared to Arambagh's robust and physical football.

Brazillian striker Jose Barreto, who has scored three goals in two matches, will hold the key to Bagan's furtunes and look to improve his tally in the tournament. He will have the support of Nigerian Abdullateef Sereki and veteran R C Prakash, who all have struck up a good rhythm in the forward line.

For the Bangla outfit, their two key players -- Mohd. Arman and Mohd Saiful Islam Saif -- will have to sit out of the final as they had been penalised in previous matches. The Arambagh team will have to find a partner for striker Hanif Pradhan, who scored a brace in the semi-final against the All Nepal Football Association XI.

On Thursday, Bagan reached the final, defeating a second-string Bhratri Sangha 4-0.

The match was marred by frayed tempers and violence, which started after Seriki netted a Barretto pass in the 24th minute. Bhratri Sangha defender R Dey appeared to have cleared the ball before it crossed the line, but the linesman signalled for a goal. Bhratri Sangha goalkeeper Shanti Mazumdar got unruly and attacked referee Bikash Pradhan. Luckily the police intervened immediately and the game resumed after 15 minutes with the referee sticking his decision and flashing a yellow card at Mazumdar.

Barreto then scored a minute before the interval.

Prakash made it 3-0 in the 68th minute off a Renedy Singh cross before Barreto could complete the tally 11 minutes later..