Dempo beat Chirag 3-1, maintain crucial lead

Margao: Dempo beat a fighting Chirag United 3-1 to maintain pole position after round 21 I-League match at

the Nehru Stadium here today. The visitors surged ahead in the 17th minute through Josimar Da Silva Martins. Dempo, who enjoyed territorial advantage in both the halves, equalised through Roberto Silva (42nd) and then scored two more goals in the second half through Ranty Martins (52nd) and Joaquim Abranches (84th). With this win, Dempo, who head the table with 41 points from 21 matches,?are now four points clear of second place Mahindra United. Chirag United have 31 points from 21 matches. Roberto Silva and Climax Lawrence combined well in the midfield for Dempo as the hosts controlled proceedings in the first half and kept their upfront busy. Ranty Martins had a glorious chance early in the match to put his team ahead when he was set free inside the box but his shot deflected a defender and went over. Chirag, who relied on counter moves in the first half, caught the Dempo defence off guard in the 17th minute to take the lead. Edmilson Marques from the middle initiated a move as he relayed the ball on the left to Gouranga Biswas who sent a high cross into the box for the gangling Josimar to net the ball in. Dempo`s defence, which looked, porous?was caught napping twice, first Edmilson made his way on the right after a rival defender failed to intercept the ball but shot out from close. Later, Josimar put Edmilson free inside the box but he he shot wide. Dempo kept on the pressure in search of the equaliser and finally got it in the 42nd minute. A combined move between Roberto Silva and Ranty Martins saw the latter send a deep goal-mouth cross to Roberto Silva, who slotted the ball home. After the change of ends, Dempo went ahead in the 52nd minute when Roberto laid the ball for Ranty Martins, who chipped it over the onrushing keeper into the net. Minutes later, Chirag nearly equalised through Edmilson Marques but for an alert John Dias who made a goal-line save to earn the man-of-the-match. The match enlivened as both the teams went for attack. Chirag showed more urgency and had some clear chances but failed to score. Substitute Ashim Biswas sent a pass to Gouranga Dutta into the box but he failed to guide the ball into the net after beating custodian Mondal. Dempo made a counter move and were unlucky not to increase the lead as a Climax`s shot hit the cross bar. Chirag, who made repeated forays from the flank, were unlucky as Gouranga Dutta shot hit the cross bar and later Samir Naik made a goal-line save off Sankar Oraon`s strike. Dempo survived close moments and made sure that they collected full points when Joaquim Abranches scored in the 84th minute. Abranches guided the ball into the empty net after Ranty Martins shot hit the bar and Clifford Miranda`s rebound was fumbled by Chirag goalkeeper Somnath Khara. Khara showed good reflexes under the bar as he made good saves to deny Ranty Martins twice. PTI