 | « Back to article | Print this article |
After pocketing their second National Football League title with a match in hand, Dempo finished their league engagements with a solitary goal win over Mohun Bagan at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa on Friday.
Dempo, who won the title earlier in 2005, finished at the top of the table with 36 points from 18 matches while Bagan who finished eighth collected 21 points from the same number of games.
In another match played at Duler ground, Mapusa, Sporting Club-de-Goa thrashed HAL 4-0 to finish sixth with 25 points.
HAL, who finished at the bottom with 10 points, have been relegated along with Mohammedan Sporting, Kolkata.
Sporting scored through Earnest Jeramiah (stoppage time of first-half and 95th minute), Dudu Omegbeni (70th), Freeman Pexito (76th).
Dempo coach Armando Colace was excited after winning the NFL title for the second time, the only Goan team to achieve the feat.
"It was a great achievement. Our boys played consistently throughout the season. Winning the Durand Cup helped us to remain more focused which helped us win the NFL title," he said.
Dempo, who wanted to celebrate the triumph in front of their fans with a win, started in right earnest and held the territorial advantage in the first-half.
They came close to scoring on three occasions with Samir Naik and Ranti Martins missing the target narrowly.
Roberto Silva nearly scored off a free-kick as rival keeper Shilton Paul made a diving save.
After a barren first-half, Dempo took the lead in the 63rd minute. Substitute Jerry Zirsanga sent a cross from the right which deflected off Bagan defender D Ravanan and came to Ranti Martins, who controlled the ball before finding the net.
Martins thus became the highest scorer in the league along with Odafe Okelie of Churchill Bros, with 16 goals each.
The Bagan midfield did not function and Jose Baretto had to fall back most of the time to assist them, resulting in their strike force becoming ineffective.
However, Baretto nearly scored in the 48th minute but defender John Dias, who played his heart out in the deep defence made a goal-line save.