Dempo tame Mohammedan sporting 3-1 in NFL tie

Margao, Apr 12 (UNI) Exhibiting brilliant ball control and goal-scoring ability, defending champions Dempo Sports Club humbled Kolkata's Mohammedan sporting 3-1 and registered their third consecutive win in the second leg match of the 10th ONGC Cup National Football League championship at Nehru stadium here today.

Sameer Naik (6th minute), Isfaq Ahmed (53rd) and Robert Mendes Silva (59th) scored for the winners, while the lone goal for Mohammedan Sporting was self goal by Dempo's defender Ravanan in the 47th minute.

With five wins, four draws and three losses, Dempo now levelled with Sporting Club de Goa with 19 points each, while Mohammedan sporting remained on 14 points from 13 outings.

Dempo, who have bettered their performance in the last two matches, were outstanding today.

They surged ahead as early as in the 6th minute through Sameer Naik, when Robert Mendes Silva (Beto) initiated a move and put the ball forward into the D-box, which rival defender David failed to clear. A lurking Naik pounced upon the oppournity and unleashed a powerful shot over the head of the rival goalkeeper Gopas Das to make it 1-0.

Dempo could have increased their lead in the 17th minute had Isfaq Ahmad not missed a sitter off a well measured pass from Beto.

The visitors fought back with a good move in the 23rd minute and could have levelled the score when Bijen Singh gave a pass to Onkonji Patrick, but the latter's attempt was smartly saved by Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal.

Dempo had another chance to consolidate their lead four minutes before the breather when Sameer Naik from the left flank made a cross to Renty Martin whose header hit the goal post and rebounded into the play.

The Kolkata outfit levelled the score in the 47th minute with the self goal. When the visitors' Patric sent a cross, Dempo defender Ravanan who was trying to clear the ball, shot into his own goal (1-1).

After both the teams tied at 1-1, Dempo played with renewed vigour and incresed their lead in the 53rd minute through Isfaq Ahmad, whose right footer from outside the D-Box found the net (2-1).

Six minutes later, Dempo sealed the fate of Mohammedan Sporting by scoring the third goal through Robert Mendes Silva (Beto) following a defensive lapse to make it 3-1.

Dempo's Isfaq Ahmed was adjudged man-of-the-match.

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