Gameweek 8 of the Hero I-League saw a flurry of goals with FC Goa forward Ranti Martins scoring five in East Bengal’s 5-1 victory over Dempo SC. Pune FC climbed to the top of the table with Mohun Bagan at second and Bengaluru FC at third.Ranti Martins was unstoppable, scoring five away goals against Goan side Dempo SC. He scored his first of the night after his FC Goa teammate, Dempo keeper Laxmikant Kattimani, parried a shot into his path, which he calmly slotted into the back of the net. Robert Lalthlamuana (Delhi Dynamos FC) and Mohammed Rafique (Atlético de Kolkata) combined well to set the Nigerian striker up for his second. Although Dempo pulled one back to halve the deficit going into halftime, Martins took over the show in the second half. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after strike partner Dudu Omagbemi was fouled in the box, before adding two wonderful goals to complete the scoring. The fourth was arguably the best of the night, as Martins audaciously chipped Kattamani from outside the box, and his fifth was not far off as he simply danced through Dempo’s backline and put the ball past the goalkeeper cap off his night.Elsewhere, Balwant Singh (Chennaiyin FC) scored a brace for Mohun Bagan in their thrilling 4-3 win over Shillong Lajong. A long ball from the defence found Balwant free to sprint at goal, and the Punjab-born striker made no mistake with his finish. The first Indian goal scorer in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) doubled his side’s lead in the 15th minute with a poacher’s goal as he finished into an open net after a save from Rehenesh TP (NorthEast United FC).
