Chidi's brace enables Sporting hold Dempo to 2-2 draw

Margao, May 11 (UNI) Super Cup winners Sporting club de Goa's hopes of retaining the second spot received a jolt as they were involved in a 2-2 draw with defending champions Dempo Sports club in the ONGC Cup National Football league championship match here today.

For Dempo, goals came through Ranty Martin in the 6th minute and Nascimento Silveira in the 80th minute, while for Sporting goals came through Edeh Chidi in the 47th and 86th minutes.

With this drawn match, Dempo with 24 points and Sporting with 23 points maintained their position at the 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Dempo got off to an aggressive start with a good move as early as in the 5th minute with Sameer Naik from the left flank sent a pass to Ranty Martin, whose hasty shot sailed over the bar.

In the next minute, Dempo shot into the lead through Ranty Martin whose header found the net following a flag kick taken by Robert Menndes Silva (Beto). Ranty made amends for his earlier lapse.

They could have increased their lead in the 37th minute of the first half when John D Cruze passed to Isfaq Ahmed who in quick sucession switched over the ball to better placed Clifford Miranada but his feeble shot landed stright into the hands of Sporting goalkeeper Luis Barreto.

Sporting levelled the score in the 47th minute through Edeh Chidi, when NI cholas Rodrigues unleashed a shot which Dempo goalkeeper failed to grab, and slipped from his hand and went towards Chidi who was lurking inside the goal just tapped it into the net 1-1.

Dempo increaed the lead in the 80th minute through Nascimento Silveira when Jony D' Cruze passed to Renty Martin who in quick sucession passed to Silveira who tapped the ball into the net 2-1.

Sporting restored the party in the 86th minute through Chidi whose long ranger shot found the net 2-2.

Dempo's Medio Nascimento Silvera was adjudged the man of the match today.

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