Jan 05: Dempo Sports club, Goa continued their golden unbeaten run to stay invincible and had a perfect New Year start after the end of the first leg, when they drubbed Viva Kerala 4-0 to score a resounding win, in the ONGC I-league match played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here on Friday.
Dempo regained their top position and are at the top of the table with 21 points from 9 matches after the end of first leg; two points clear ahead of JCT who have 19 points. Viva Kerala has 7 points from same number of matches.
Dempo led 1-0 at the breather, scored through Valeriano Rebello (34th), Ranti Martins (61st), substitute Clifton Gonsalves (63rd) and Roberto Silva (71st).
Dempo squandered too many opportunities that came their way as Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi missed in the fifth minute itself; Chidi shot it wide off the target with only the rival custodian to beat. Few minutes later Anthony Pereira missed a sitter after Climax Lawrence's defence shredding pass left the Viva Kerala defence fixed.
Dempo's Anthony Pereira who did major groundwork on the right flank was instrumental in two of the goals scored by his team and was declared the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Dempo launched a set plan on the rival half mostly from the right but could not get their act together after they reached the danger zone or could not get past Viva's goalkeeper MV Nelson who effected two good saves from Edeh Chidi.
Dempo ot the lead in the 34th minute. Defender Sameer Naik sent a precision cross on a flag-kick to Valeriano Rebello who positioned himself well on the top of the box before coming up with a stunner that brushed past a defender before finding into the net.
Viva Kerala team was pushed to their post, as they were busy in defending their citadel in the first half. They came close to score once but keeper Satish Kumar came right in time to punch the ball away denying Baba Tunde from heading in off a cross by Satheesh Kumar from the right.
On changing the ends, the Kerala outfit shifted their gear and appeared an altogether different side as they went into attacking mode and missed two clear chances to equalise. Firstly, Santa Singh's powerful shot from the top of the box bounced from keeper Satheesh Kumar hands and found unmarked Wisdom Abbey who shot out in the 54th minute.
Later, Babu Tunde failed to score from inside the box off a pass from CS Saleel. However, Dempo relied on counter moves after the breather. Roberto Silva missed an open chance but they doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Ranti Martins headed home off a cross by Anthony Pereira.
Substitute Clifton Gonsalves then increased the lead two minutes later as he guided the ball into the net after beating advancing keeper Nelson off a pass from Roberto Silva.
Amending his previous mistakes skipper Roberto Silva rounded off the tally after heading in on a cross from Anthony Pereira to seal the fate of the opponents in the 71st minute.
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