Siliguri: A depleted East Bengal defence would brighten the prospects of Dempo who are in sublime form as the top two teams of the last I-League square off in the 34th Federation Cup final at the Kanchenjungha Stadium on Sunday.
East Bengal scored through Lalrindika Ralte, who came as an extra-time substitute, just 10 minutes shy of penalty shootout to oust Churchill Brothers in the semis.
The last year's runners-up would have to pay the price of their hard-fought win tomorrow as both centrebacks Uga Okpara and Gurwinder Singh would miss out having earned double bookings against Churchill.
With the burly Okpara not manning the centre of defence, the Dempo's frontmen Joaquim Abranches and Koko Sakibo, who are peaking at the right time, would look to breach the red-and-gold's fort.
Armando Colaco has only one foreigner in Sakibo as Japanese recruit Ryuji Sueoka is indisposed but the Nigerian is coming to his elements after his hattrick in their 4-0 rout of Mumbai in the group league.
In the semis against Salgaocar yesterday, Sakibo once again combined well with Abranches who gave the lead while the former settled the issue with a cool-headed dribble.
The duo's ominous form would surely give jitters to East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan and it remains to be seen what the strategist Englishman is up to against a team who have just conceded once in the entire tournament.
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