CHARLES D'SOUZA
MARGAO
There's no stopping Dempo Sports Club. Even without key players “ Gabriel Fernandes, Anthony D'Souza, Aiken Dias, Mario Mascarenhas and Mohammed Ali “ the Golden Eagles comfortably beat arch-rivals Salgaocar FC 2-1 in the GFA's Pro League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday. Dempo led 1-0 at the breather .
Dempo started with a three-pronged attack -- Nigerian Felix Odili, Bevan D'Mello and Adil Khan were given the role to keep the rival defence on their toes from the word go. However it was the Green Brigade who should have taken the lead in the 15th minute when Brian Mascarenhas' teasing free kick from the left flank saw Keita Boubacar and Leny Pereira a bit too late to connect it. Minutes later, another free kick by Brian saw an unmarked Leny drill a stiff grounder at the goal which forced a goalline clearance from Dempo defender Naveen Mendes.
After sustaining the pressure, the Blues came close to surging ahead when Nigerian striker Felix Odili Chiddi's smart header landed at the feet of striker Bevan D'Mello, who in turn relayed it to the industrious winger Kapil Hoble whose adroit placement was fisted away by Salgaocar FC goalkeeper Bruno Colaco.
After that scare, Salgaocar attacked in vain when Souvik Das floated the ball to Liston Colaco who without wasting time unleashed a snap shot that was blocked by Dempo goalkeeper Priyant Singh. Dempo continued to apply pressure through the rest of the half and would have gone into the break disappointed after failing to find the back of the net. However, their persistence was rewarded at the stroke of the break when Adil Khan's acrobatic reverse kick deflected into the goal after hitting Salgaocar defender Lenny's leg.
Dempo continued to enjoy the better share of exchanges and ball possession after the change of ends and doubled the lead in the 50th minute when Chiddi picked the ball from the centre line and outpaced his markers on the left flank in a darting run and unleashed a left-footer that crashed into the net.
Stung by the double blow, Salgaocar staged a comeback to reduce the margin in the 57th minute when rival central defender Meldon D'Silva brought down Jovel Martins in the box and referee awarded a penalty against Dempo. Naro Hari Shrestha sent the rival goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 1-2.
Soon Dempo would have been up by another goal in the 60th minute, when Felix sent a fine through pass to an overlapping Kapil Hoble, but the latter's shot at the goal was blocked by Bruno in goal. In the 79th minute, Salgaocar were awarded their second penalty kick by referee Parmanand Mandrekar after defender Meldon's foul on Aslon Oliveira just inside the penalty box. Once again Naro stepped forward but saw his spot kick being saved by Dempo keeper Priyant Singh.
In the 93rd minute, a back header by defender Asheer Akhtar was intercepted by striker Felix but before he could aim at the goal, keeper Bruno Colaco came to his side's rescue with a timely clearance.
With this win, Dempo move to 16 points from 8 matches while Salgaocar stay on 12 points from seven matches.
PLAYING TODAY
Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim vs Churchill Brothers SC, 4 pm
