East Bengal on brink of setting records in I-League

Ranty Martins needs one more goal to reach the 200 mark

Kolkata, April 17 Local football giants East Bengal are poised for several landmarks when they clash with Mumbai FC in an I-League match on Saturday at the Salt Lake stadium. After their two back-to-back away triumphs, an East Bengal victory would secure their 200th win in the tournament, which was formerly known the National Football League (NFL). They would become the first Indian team to do so in the competition should they go on to win on Saturday, a release from the club said on Friday.

The team's star striker Nigerian Ranty Martins, current leading goalscorer with 14 strikes, is also on the verge of making history, being one strike away from becoming the first footballer to score 200 goals in the tournament's history.

But the potentially historic occasion won't be graced by the countless supporters of the club as spectators will be denied entry to the stadium due to security reasons. The match will be played without any state police protection because of the Kolkata municipal elections to be held on Saturday.

The home team has however arranged for private security personnel for the match.

Fifth-placed East Bengal, with 19 points from 12 matches, will rise a spot in the standings if they win against their eighth-placed opponents (13 from 13). Pune FC are presently fourth in the table with 20 points from 13 matches.

Mumbai FC approach the match on the back of a 0-1 loss to Dempo SC. Their preparations were dampened by the indefinite banning of their midfielder Dane Pereira for a failed dope test on Thursday.