Beto rescues Dempo against Mumbai

MARGAO, DEC 22
It was supposed to be a cakewalk against Mumbai Football Club but Dempo Sports Club  made a mess of it before man-of-the-match Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva  converted a set-piece goal to give his team a second win in 4th I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday. There was no score at half time.
Armando Colaco’s boys came into the match as overwhelming favourites on the back of two NFL and two I-League crowns in five years. But the visitors from Mumbai, who are playing the third time in the League upset Dempo’s game plan by showing a spirited display.
Experienced Dempo midfielders Roberto Mendes da Silva, Nicolau Borges, Ogba Kalu and Peter Carvalho looked completely off-colour and failed to provide adequate support to the forwards.
On the other hand, Mumbai impressed in the opening stages. They breached the Dempo citadel on a couple of occasions dangerously. Both Nigerian strikers, Ebi Sukore  Theophlous and Henry Ezeh caught the rival defence napping with striker Ebi Sukore  outpacing a couple of defenders but they tumbled at crucial moments. After the wakeup call, Dempo came close in surging ahead but Nigerian midfielder Ogba Kalu’s goal-bound try was blocked by Dempo keeper Laxmikant Kattimani.
Mumbai’s striker Ebi Sukore always seemed to be a threat and could have taken the lead had he wasted an easy scoring chance.
Mumbai nearly broke the deadlock in the early moments when striker Henry Ezeh outwitted John Dias and Domnick Noronha but his try hit the post and went out much to the dismay of his team’s bench.
Thereafter Dempo struck rhythm in keeping the momentum going. Their short passing and distribution was impressive.
Dempo spurned an easy chance in the 28th minute when Roberto Mendes da Silva ballooned from hand-shaking distance from close range after left wing back Marcus Peixoto sent a through pass to him inside the rival penalty area. Later, Roberto Mendes da Silva’s feeble push went straight into the hands of the rival keeper. Dempo midfielder Nicolau Borges took a shy at the goal from 20-yards with only Mumbai keeper Nidhin  Lal at his mercy but he sent the ball wide much to the dismay of Dempo supporters.
The change of sides proved to be a change of fortune for Dempo. They mounted pressure on the rival citadel and their hard work paid off when Mumbai defender Anas Edathodika pulled down Dempo striker Ranty Martins outside the rival penalty box as he was the last defender. Referee Minangshu Bhattacharya from IFA just cautioned him with a yellow. The ensuing free kick saw Roberto Mendes Da Silva hit a curling shot which sailed into the right side of the nets in the 59th minute.
A couple of minutes later, the crowd witnessed a moment of panic when Mumbai’s goalkeeper Nidhin Lal fell unconscious after he received a jerk on his neck while attempting to head the ball. An ambulance rushed onto the ground and play was held up for five minutes but fortunately he regained consciousness. Anil Kamat of AIFF and GFA member Anthony Pango also rushed to help.
Stung by the setback, Mumbai also upped the ante but lack of quality strikers did not help their cause. Noel Wilson’s long ranger was blocked by the Dempo keeper.
Later Dempo custodian Laxmikant Kattimani came to his side’s rescue by thwarting a S Kutty Mani fierce shot.
Despite the loss, Mumbai have nine points in their kitty from five encounters while Dempo earned their second win.