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Dempo Sports Club extended their lead at the top to four points but were unconvincing in their 2-1 win against Chirag
United Kerala at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Saturday.
Goals from Clifford Miranda and Ranty Martins in the first session itself were enough for Dempo to look as if they had found their rhythm. But the ghost of the last defeat against Prayag United came back to haunt in the second session as the team missed plenty of chances.
CK Vineeth scored a wonderful goal for the visitors in the 28th minute but despite having a couple of clear chances after the change of ends, Chirag United Kerala could not snatch what would have been a deserving point.
Dempo started confidently and opened the account earlier than they had probably planned. The breakthrough happened in the 5th minute when Peter Carvalho cut past three players worked his way ahead and picked up Clifford on the left. The Dempo midfielder had no problem in getting past the goalkeeper for Dempo’s opening goal.
Ranty Martins made it 2-0 in the 15th minute. This time it was Anthony Pereira who did all that was needed to slice open the Chirag United defence and put the ball on the platter for Ranty to finish from a narrow angle.
Dempo were jostled in the 29th minute when Vineeth found the back of the net, and that too in style. Vineeth’s reverse kick stunned not just Dempo goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury but almost everyone else present at the stadium.
The second session, though, was a saga of missed chances. Peter had the best chance to increase Dempo’s lead but goalkeeper K Sharath proved equal to the challenge.
Chirag could have so easily snatched a draw but Vineeth, when provided with a good opportunity, ended placing the ball straight into the waiting hands of goalkeeper K Sharath.
