Sporting ride Dudu header into Fed cup final

Kolkata, Dec 26 (UNI) Sporting Clube De Goa's talismanic striker Dudu Macpherlin again made the difference seeing the Gaon club through to the final of the 28th Federation Cup, defeating defending champions Mahindra United by a solitary goal here today.

The all-important strike came from a scorching header by Dudu Macpherlin in the 73rd minute when a Rodrigues freekick was headed in by Dudu.

Sporting put the Mahindras on the back foot right from the beginning of the match with continued attacks down to flanks by Earnest Jeremiah and Nicholas Rodrigues. The Mumbai outfit for a change looked in disarray.

Sporting could have moved ahead rigfht in the 13th minute, but Dudu missed a free header off a Jeremiah cross.

However, the jeep-men came back strongly in the second half with the midfield putting up a better and stronger show. Defender N Pradeep even had a chance to score when his flying header missed the near post off a James Singh cross in the 50th minute.

Sporting, however, were not ready to give up the control and the initiative away that they had gained over the first half. Dudu's wonderful foray inside the Mahindra box and then a back pass to Joseph Pereira could have earned reward had the later not squandered the chance.

One did have a feeling that Mahindras would characterestically come back with an equalizer, but a strong defensive performance thawrted all such efforts. The frustration showed and NS Manju was sent off in the injury time for a ridiculous foul.

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