Dempo outplay Churchill, go on top

Dempo…4 Churchill…2

MARGAO, MARCH 20
Former champions Dempo Sports Club stamped  their class handing defending champions Musli Power Churchill Brothers  a 4-2 defeat  in a 17th round match  of ONGC 3rd I-league at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday. Dempo were leading 2-1 at half time.
Despite several injuries, Dempo produced almost vintage soccer and garnered full points to stay in contention for the League pennant. In contrast, Churchill’s display was lukewarm.
Dempo worked to a plan and controlled the exchanges which forced Churchill to fall back on the defensive, which was a weak link.
Dempo medios Climax Lawrence and Brazilian Roberto Mendes da Silva worked in tandem with Anthony Pereira and Nicolau Borges to put the rivals under tremendous pressure. They created several openings for man-of-the match Nigerian striker Ranty Martins and Joaquim Abranches. Eventually, Ranty Martins was the hero for Dempo  as he struck twice.
Dempo also excelled in the defence with John Dias and Cresson Antao providing little room for Churchill Brothers captain and ace striker Odafe Okolie.
Dempo set the pace and fired the first salvo in the very 2nd minute but Ranty fired wide from close range after being fed by Joaquim Abranches on the left.
Ranty stunned Churchill in the 25th minute as his rasping left footer from the edge of the penalty area off Nicolau Borges beat the rival goalkeeper. Six minutes later international midfielder Climax doubled the lead off Ranty.
With a 2-0 lead, Dempo slackened the pace and paid the price in the 38th minute as Nigerian striker Felix Chimaokwu headed in a cross from Odafe .Earlier,  Laldrindika Ralte’s free kick from the left beat goalkeeper Tyson Caiado but luckily for Dempo it hit the crossbar.
Dempo started the second half in a rousing fashion and Ranty struck for the second time in the 67th minute with a clinical finish.
In the 73rd minute, India Junior striker Joaquim Abranches rose to the occasion as he  controlled a pass from Anthony Pereira and unleashed a scorching right footer  which beat the Churchill Brothers goalkeeper all ends up.
Churchill Brothers  managed to pull one back in the 74th minute following a goalmouth scramble as Dempo substitute goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani lost the grip and the ball slipped from his hand. The Dempo players appealed that Odafe had handled the ball and scored but their protests were overruled by referee Dinesh Nair.
 Dempo almost made it 5-2 in the 81st minute when Charan Ria pulled down Dempo’s Anthony Pereira  just inside the penalty  box. However, the resultant, loaded spot kick taken by Brazilian hit the bar and went out.
Churchill goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya came up with a super save in the closing stages to deny Ranty his third goal in injury time.
With this win,  Dempo move to the top spot with 32 points from 17 matches while Churchill suffered their third defeat and have 26 points from 17 encounters.
Dempo played like true champs. It was a fantastic performance.