Dempo blanks Churchill 2-0, top league table

Margao, Mar 4 (UNI) Two goals in the second half by Clifford Miranda and Ranty Martins guided Durand Cup Champions Dempo Sports Club to trounce Churchill Brothers 2-0 and gain full points in the ONGC National Football League championship match at Nehru stadium Fatorda here today.

With the win, Dempo came on par with Mahindra United and East Bengal with 14 points each at the end of the seventh round. But on better goal difference, Dempo top the table, while Churchill remained on seven points from equal number of outings.

Dempo dominated the first half and came with a good move in the 10th minute. They were almost in the lead but Anthony Pereira took a hasty shot from close range, which sailed over the bar.

Then on a couple of occasions, Churchill goalkeeper brought off fine saves. First in the 22nd minute off a well attempted shot by Ranty Martins and second in the 40th minute on a long range shot by Vallerian Rebello.

Churchill dependable Nigerian forward Odafa Okolie was well marked by Dempo defender Valerian Rebello.

Dempo could have been up by at least a couple of goals in the first session, had their forwards were quick in grasping the chancer that came their way.

After change over, Churchill accelerated the pace of the game with spirited attacks and were almost in the lead, when a header by Drupesh Desai hit the cross bar and rebounded on the goal line but timely clearance by Dempo defender John Dias saved from any damage to their goal.

Churchill had another chance to score in the 53rd minute, when Okolie, after beating rival goalkeeper, unleashed a shot which again crushed into the wood work and rebounded into the play which was cleared by Dempo defender.

After that, Dempo took over and shot into the lead in the 61st minute through Clifford Miranda, whose power-packed shot found the net off a direct freekick pass from Robert Mendis Da Silva (Beto) 1-0.

Dempo increased the lead in the 81st minute through Ranty Martins off a well measured pass from Climax Lawrence to make 2-0. Miranda was adjudged the man of the match for his fine performance.

UNI