By Admin 
East Bengal kept archrival Mohun Bagan Super Giant at bay and the goalless draw earned it a spot in the semifinals of the AIFF Super Cup at the PJN Stadium here on Friday.
East Bengal, level on points with Bagan but having a superior goal difference, had come into the contest needing just a draw; the Mariners, on the other hand, had to win.
But it was East Bengal which shot off the blocks, firing on target in the first minute. Bagan’s attempt came in the 40th.
Whenever it had possession, Oscar Bruzon’s side deployed Mohamad Rakip as an inverted wing-back and he combined with Miguel Ferreira in the midfield. The two almost led to an early strike when Rakip’s pass was shot on target by Miguel; it was, however, blocked by Alberto Rodriguez.
East Bengal had another opportunity in the 24th minute, but Hamid Ahadad’s header struck the woodwork. Bagan’s only chance in the opening period came when Liston Colaco set up Apuia, but the latter shot into Prabhsukhan Gill’s gloves.
Bagan grew more into the game after resumption, with Apuia and Colaco combining again in the opening minute but the cross was intercepted. Four minutes later, Tom Aldred headed Colaco’s free-kick over the net.
For the Red-and-Gold brigade, Ahadad’s shot was palmed out by Vishal Kaith, who also caught Jay Gupta’s header.
As the match crossed the 75th-minute mark, Jose Molina, Bagan’s coach, got desperate and sent all six Bagan foreign players to the field at the same time. But, Bruzon’s boys had one defender marking each of the four players in the final third.
Earlier in the day, Dempo Sports Club and Chennaiyin FC bowed out after a 1-1 draw at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim. Shubham Rawat scored for the Golden Eagles in the 25th minute, while Shamik Mitra equalised four minutes later.
The results: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 0 drew with East Bengal 0; Dempo 1 (Rawat 25) drew with Chennaiyin FC 1 (Shamik 29).