Salgaocar to clash against Dempo in crucial NFL tie tomorrow

Margao, May 6 (UNI) Buoyed by their win against second placed Kolkata giant East Bengal, former champions Salgaocar sports club, reeling with relegation scare would be looking to upset Defending champions Dempo sports club, when they clash in the crucial second leg ONGC Cup 10th National Football league championship match to be played here at Nehru Stadium Fatorda tomorrow.

Dempo placed 5th in the league table with 20 points from 14 outings hold the psychological edge over Salgaocar as they had scored a 2-1 win in their first leg clash. Salgaocar on other end struggling to avoid relegation are in a precarious position at the bottom with 14 points from 13 matches and desperately in need of full points to increase their points tally.

Dempo have a well-balanced squad spearheaded by the Nigerian Ronty Martin who has 11 goals to his credit including a hat trick.

Other forwards, Isfaq Ahmed and Joaquim Ambranches are a potent striking force.

An efficient midfield consisting of hard working Clifford Miranda, Robert Mendes Silva (Beto), Sameer Naik, Nascimento Silveira have given Dempo a stable composition.

The defence is in the safe hands of Majek Bolaji, John Dias and Raju Singh.

Dempo coach Arman Colaco was optimistic of their win and said all the remaining matches were important for the team and it has to win them to finish at least at the third spot. The team is fully fit and the same team that played against Al Nasr in the AFC Cup will be playing tomorrow, Mr Colaco added.

Salgaocar coach Savio Medeira said his main worry is the form of their strikers who have not been able to convert the chances into goals. He said, ''we still have four matches in hand and all are importants to us and need to win to remain in the league. If boys play the same game as they played against East Bengal in the last tie in Goa it will not be difficult task for us to gain points.'' He informed that defender Agnelo Colaco is nursing injury.

Salgaocar will have to depend on Bruno Oliveira, Samson Singh and Jyoti Kumar who have to come up with a vastly improved showing and midfieders Fabio Possos, Bhuvan Joshi, Rachus Lamare and Jerous Oliveir have to create openings for their forwards to give them the much needed victory.

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