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Prayag United scored a stunning 2-1 victory over Dempo Sports Club in
a 13th round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday.
Dempo continue to lead the table with 26 points but the former champions were left to win an opportunity to increase the lead at the top of the table. Dempo were far from their best and could not dictate terms while their rivals played to a plan and caught the hosts on the counter.
Brazilian striker Joshimar da Silva Martins had put Prayag United ahead in the fifth minute itself but Dempo came back in the second session with a penalty from Ranty Martins in the 60th minute. Gouranga Biswas scored the match winner in the 78th minute.
Prayag United stunned Dempo early in the game when Brazilian striker Joshimar made the best of a defensive misunderstanding between Cressan Antao and goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, who had to be substituted after sustaining a clash during the melee.
Dempo took time to settle down but could not enforce themselves. There were a couple of chances though but Anthony Pereira shot wide from close range and Ranty also went close.
Dempo got the equaliser at the hour mark when Ranty won a penalty after he was brought down by Prayag goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal. Ranty himself scored.
Much against the run of play, Prayag United went ahead for the second time in the 78th minute. Shankar Oaron crossed a ball into the heart of the Dempo goalmouth, where Kayne Vincent mistimed his header but Gouranga was on hand to turn the ball home with a low header over Dempo goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattymani.
Dempo tried to claw their way back into the match but Climax Lawrence’s volley was off target and Peter Carvalho failed to direct the ball into the goal when the rival goalkeeper had left his ground.
