MARGAO: Dempo Sports Club strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 4-1 victory over Shillong Lajong Football Club in a fifth round I-League
clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Saturday.
Dempo struggled to enforce themselves in a manner they usually do but a brace from Ryuji Sueoka, including a penalty, and one each from Clifford Miranda and Anthony Pereira was enough to take their points tally to 13 and leapfrog Churchill Brothers (12).
Shillong Lajong pulled a goal back in the second session through Jibon Singh but the visitors, in the end, paid a price for their lack of experience.
A long ball from Dempo’s half saw Anthony Pereira and Climax Lawrence interchange nicely. Climax then controlled the ball and essayed a cross into the heart of the Lajong goalmouth where Sueoka was on hand to head home.
At the other end, in the 50th minute, Dempo made it 2-0 when a quick move initiated by Peter Carvalho saw Anthony Pereira cross into the goalmouth where Sueoka headed the ball only to find the post. He again shot from the rebound which was saved brilliantly by Lajong goalkeeper Lalthuammawia, but the next rebound fell nicely at the feet of Clifford Miranda, who scored with ease.
When all seemed lost, Lajong showed they were still in the game with a goal in the 73rd minute. The dangerous Lalramluaha was in the thick of action, and this time he beat goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury with a brilliant in-stepper after being fed by Sushil.
Despite a couple of more attacks on goal, the equalizer, though, eluded them. Instead, it were Dempo who scored two more goals as the hosts first won a penalty which Sueoka easily converted in the 87th minute and then Anthony also added his name to the scoresheet with a simple tap in added time.
