Dempo edge out Salgaocar by 2-1

Panaji, Mar 14 (UNI) Nigerian Renty Martin converted a penalty kick to help defending champions Dempo Sports Club edge out Salgaocar Sports club 2-1 in the ONGC Cup 10th National Football league championship being played at Duler ground Mapusa today.

For Dempo, goals came through Robert Mendes Silva in the 67th minute and Renty Martin in the 80th minute, while Salgaocar goal came through substitute Bhuvan Joshi in the 69th minute.

Today's win was dempo's second and they now have 10 points from eight matches, while Salgaocar remained on six from equal number of matches.

Silva was adjudged man of the match for his fine performance.

Dempo, who started well with better share of exchanges in the first half, could have gone up by at least three goals, but their forwards faltered at crucial junctures. On a couple of occasions, Salgaocar goakeeper Juje Siddi brought off smart saves.

Dempo came near scoring in the 23rd minute with Johny D'Cruz unleashing a powerful shot, but rival goalkeer fisted the ball over the goal post. In the next minute, Renty Martin, after collecting a pass from Joaquim Abranches took a power packed shot which was again well saved by Siddi, diving to his left.

In the 25th minute, Dempo had another chance to shoot into the lead when Johny D'Cruz passed to Robert Mandes Silva, who did not have a clear look at the goal and shot over the bar.

Salgaocar had a good chance to move ahead two minutes before the breather when Samson Singh, after receiving a pass from Fabio Possos, moved with the ball solo and after dodging past a couple of rival defenders unleashed a shot which was well saved by goalkeeper Satish Kumar.

After barren first half, Dempo shot into the lead in the 67th minute through Brazilian Robert Mendes Silva, whose 20 yarder found the net giving no chance to rival goalkeeper.

The lead was short lived, when Salgaocar substitute Bhuvan Joshi, who came in place of Jerose Oliveira, unleashed a shot, which Dempo's defender John Dias trying to clear the ball kissed his leg and deflected into his own goal (1-1).

Dempo increased their lead in the 80th minute through Renty Martin off a penalty goal. Refree Bharat Mane awarded a penalty when Salgoacar defender Agnelo Colaco brought down Dempo's Clifford Miranda in the danger zone. Ranty Martin converted the spot kick correctly to make it 2-1.

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