Dempo score over Churchill

A goal each by Clifford Miranda and Ranty Martins guided Dempo to a 2-0 victory over Churchil Brothers in a National Football League match at the Nehru stadium in Panaji, Goa, on Sunday.

After a barren first half, Dempo, who were the more dominant team in the game, scored through Miranda in the 61st minute and Martins 20 minutes later.

The victory took Dempo's tally to 14 points from seven matches and helped them join Mahindra United and East Bengal at the top of the league table.

Churchill have seven points from as many matches.

Dempo controlled the proceeding in the first half with crisp short passes in the middle, followed by lofted long ones to unsettle the rival defence. They had a chance to draw first blood in the 10th minute. Defender Valeriano Rebello, from the right, sent a long lob into the box but Anthony Pereira shot out from close with just the rival custodian to beat.

Churchill had two chances to score early in the second half, but defender Nicholas Muyoti's header hit the bar and later Odafe Okolie's sole effort hit the post.

After the two close shaves, Dempo took the lead when Roberto Silva relayed a free-kick to Miranda on the top of the box and the latter unleashed a power-packed shot that found the roof of the net.

Ranty Martins doubled the lead in the 81st minute when he outran a couple of defenders before sending the ball into the goal, off a through pass from Climax Lawrence.

With this strike, Martins took over the mantle of leading scorer in the 11th NFL with six goals.