MARGAO
Dempo Sports Club flaunted their class, then stuttered momentarily touching mediocrity before coming into their own to smother Neroca FC, Manipur 3-0 in a final phase match of Second Division I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday. The win took the Golden Eagles five points clear atop the league table.
Backed by sizeable audience, Dempo were lively from the whistle with Nigerian striker Felix Odili Chidi and promising striker Uttam Rai creating chances aplenty but the final finish was lacking. The defence led by Chika Wali and Mohammed Ali was impregnable. And whenever Nigerian striker from the opposition, Ejiogu Chinedu Emmanuel, did manage to get a close look at the goal, goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani proved equal to the task.
Dempo nearly broke the deadlock early but Uttam Rai's volley crashed into the post. Dempo continued to apply the pressure and nearly rocked the rival citadel but midfielder Germanpreet Singh shot wide from close distance after Felix Odili Chiddi laid him a through pass. Dempo finally surged ahead in the 41st minute when Chiddi scored off a freekick taken by left half Mandar Rao Dessai. Dempo should have increased the lead but Romeo Fernandes ballooned over from close range.
The home side came out after the break playing a high defensive line while the attackers were finding good pockets of space. Neroca's hopes faded in the 60th minute when Mandar floated the ball inside the rival penalty box and as the Manipuri central defenders came out to check Chidi and Chika Wali, right back Shallum Pires nicely headed home to give his team a 2-0 cushion.
Dempo continued with their guile and pace and nearly increased the tally but Chiddi's unimpressive shot, off a well measured cross from substitute Holicharan Nazary, was well blocked by Neroca goalkeeper Lalit Thapa. Dempo's sustained intensity could have brought more goals but strikers Nazary and Chiddi didn't capitalise on the chances that came their way. The final nail on the Neroca coffin was hit at the stroke of the final whistle. Mandar floated a flag kick inside the box and substitute midfielder Peter Carvalho gently nodded in past goalkeeper Thapa.
With this win, Dempo remain on top of the table with 13 points from six matches while Neroca FC occupy the second spot with eight points from same number of encounters. Dempo head coach Mauricio Afonso was elated with the three points and the margin of victory. "The boys played well today and though there were moments of uncertainty, they quickly regrouped and settled well. We worked on our strengths and got the desired result," Afonso said after the match.
Gift Rai Khan, the coach of the visiting side, said: "We had a bad day in office. We had played well against them in the first leg but somehow the players did not click today. Also the humidity affected the performance of the team. We need to forget this loss in a hurry."
