Dempo too good for Air India

Dempo Sports Club, Goa, and Indian Bank, Chennai, earned full points, winning their opening encounters in the final phase of the Second Division National Football League in Pondicherry on Sunday.

In a fast-paced encounter, Dempo outplayed Air India, Mumbai, to win 3-0 while Indian Bank defeated Bhratri Sangha, Kolkota, 2-0.

Dempo, with quite a number of foreign players, called the shots from the start but opened their account only in the 44th minute of the first half when Dudu M Omagbemi found the net. Dudu collected a fine pass from William Abubacker, from the right flank, and gently tapped the ball past Air India custodian Israt Kamaal into goal.

Had Dempo capitalised on all the scoring chances that came their way, they could have been at least four goals to the good in the first session itself. Lazarus, William and Dudu were their main offenders.

In the second session, Dempo mounted pressure right from the word go. The Air India citadel almost fell when Williams, collecting a lob from the right, unleashed a powerful right footer, but Kamaal did well to fist it away.

The Goa side increased their tally in the 15th minute of the second session, when Alesh Shomaki found the net, marking the culmination of a combined move between him and Dudu.

Stung by the reverse, Air India made some desperate attempts, but a determined Dempo defence and the wayward shooting of their strikers deprived them a chance to reduce the margin.

Dempo completed their tally when Sudu again scored in the 71st minute, placing the ball into the net following a neat pass from Williams.

Despite being 0-3 down, Air India never gave up hope. They made an all- out effort to salvage some pride but Dempo 'keeper Francis Fernandes was a hard nut to crack.

Earlier, in a lacklusture encounter, Indian Bank scored once in each half through their Sri Lankan players Imran Mohammed and Kusun Nadika to beat Bharatri Sanga.

National Football League - the complete coverage