Dempo down Sporting Club 2-0, regains top spot

Margao, Apr 8 (UNI) Exhibiting fine ball control and shooting prowess, title aspirant Dempo Sports Club humbled Sporting Club de Goa 2-0 and regained the top spot in their 12th round ONGC National Football league championship match played at Nehru Stadium Fatorda today.

Both the goals for Dempo came in the first half through Anthony Pereira in the 12th minute and Samir Naik in the 24th minute.

Dempo, with this win, came on par with defending champions Mahindra United, Mumbai, with 23 points. However, Dempo top the table because of better goal difference. Sporting Club de Goa remained on 14 points from as many matches.

Dempo began on a rousing note and controlled the midfield play where the trio of Roberto Silva, Climax Lawrence and Johny d' Cruze gave a good account of themselves, especially in the first half, and shot into the lead as early as in the 12th minute through Anthony Pereira who just tapped the ball into the net off a well-measured pass from Climax Lawrence.

Sporting came near scoring in the 13th minuite but Wilton Gomes' well-atttempted shot off a free kick was punched away by Dempo goalkeeper Satish Kumar for a corner.

Dempo increased their lead in the 24th minute through Samir Naik when Sporting's Belo Rasaq failed to head away his cross and the ball landed into the goal making it 2-0.

With the two-goal lead, Dempo relaxed but had the ball more in their possession till the lemon break.

After the cross over, Sporting made one change and brought in Nicholas Rodrigues in place of Nicholas Nath. However, that did not change the complexion of the game.

Dempo had another good chance to further increase their lead in the 71st minute, but Sporting goalkeeper Luis Barreto smartly saved the powerpacked shot by Roberto Silva. Dempo's Samir Naik was adjudged Man of the Match.

UNI