TEAM HERALD

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MARGAO: A goal in the final minute by striker Joaquim Abranches helped Dempo Sports Club overcome Air India 1-0 in the seventh round I-League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Saturday.

Dinesh Sakhalkar The players in action in the seventh round I-League  football encounter between Dempo and Air India at  Nehru stadium, Fatorda, Saturday.

Dempo started the game on a positive note and attacked the rival citadel. Their first attempt at the rival goal came in the very eighth minute when captain and midfielder Clifford Miranda picked up the ball from Joaquim and the former sent a cross inside the rival penalty box but Japanese striker Ryuji Sueoka’s header missed the mark narrowly.

Air India came close to forging ahead in the 12^th minute when striker Ezeh Henry snatched the ball from rival defender Cresson Antao but the former lost control and the ball went to Dempo goalkeeper Tyson Caido who fumbled with the collection. The lurking Nigerian striker Junior Ogagbemiro failed to take advantage of the rival goalkeeper’s folly.

Dempo were unlucky in the 21^st minute when midfielder Clifford’s weak shot from hand-shaking distance went to straight into the safe hands of the rival goalkeeper off a Sueoka fine through pass.

In the 38^th minute, Air India almost took the lead but captain MIcky Fernandes’ swerving free kick which beat goalkeeper Tyson hit the crossbar and went out.

Dempo had another opportunity to have surge ahead in the 40^th minute when central midfielder Godwin Franco blasted wide off a fine through pass by Anthony Pereira.

The home side put up a better display soon after resumption and Joaquim’s snap shot was saved by Air India goalkeeper Sukwinder Singh off Sueoka in the 58^th minute.

Dempo went on the offensive but their forwards failed to provide the adequate finishing touches to their well orchestrated raids. First, Clifford failed to beat the rival goalkeeper of a well measured cross from Anthony. Later, Sueoka’s header went straight to rival goalkeeper. Thereafter substitute Romeo Fernandes’ rasping shot was well blocked by Sukwinder.

Air India captain Micky looked to pull things back for his team but goalkeeper Tyson foiled his plans, blocking his rasping shot in the 80^th minute.

Dempo’s match-winner came in the 90^th minute when hardworking Sueoka found Romeo Fernandes free on the left who without wasting time pushed the ball to striker Joaquim, who made no mistake in punting the ball past the rival goalkeeper to punt the bal past the rival goalkeeper, much to the delight of the Dempo supporters.

Dempo now have 16 points from seven matches while Air India are at the bottom with five defeat and have three points from six matches.

Joaquim was adjudged man-of-the-match. For the second day, AIFF Anti-Doping team conducted random tests on two players from each team.

Despite the win, Dempo chief coach Armando Colaco was not too satisfied but stated that the three points earned from the win were valuable for them. “After losing to ONGC, it is difficult to come back. We could have done much better,” he said.