Air India knock out champions Dempo

Air India registered the biggest upset of the Osian's Durand Cup football tournament when they knocked out defending champions Dempo Sports Club 2-1 at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, to set up a semi-final clash with Churchill Brothers on Monday.

In a pulsating encounter, Sanju Pradhan (third minute) and Santosh Koli (75th) found the net for Air India while Nicolau Borges scored for last season's National League champions in the 43rd minute.

Earlier, Nigerian Odafe Onyeka Okolie hammered in five goals as Churchill Brothers trounced Central Railway 6-1.

Okolie found the target in the 13th, 40th, 54th, 58th and 82nd minutes with substitute Thangjam Singh getting on the scoresheet in the 84th, after Kasif Jamal had given Central Railway a surprise lead in the seventh minute.

The Dempo-Air India match was the best game of the tournament so far with two evenly matched sides going full steam at each other and the balance regularly shifting from one side to another.

Armando Colaco's expensive collection of talent was shocked early on when a free-kick from outside the area by Samson Singh hit the crossbar. Before custodian V P Satish Kumar or any of his fellow-defenders could react, Pradhan headed the rebound into an empty net.

Air India were clearly the dominant team in the early exchanges as their defence held firm with the rattled Dempo players forced to take shots from a distance. As a result, Raju Ekka in the Air India goal was hardly troubled.

But as the half wore on, Dempo got into its stride and skipper Ranti Martins went close when he headed a cross from Valeriano Rebello just wide.

But their sustained pressure bore fruit just before the break when a free-kick from Samir Naik was headed back in the danger area by Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh. Nigerian Roberto Silva missed the first header but Borges found the target to send the teams level at half-time.

Coach Colaco did not start with his midfield dynamos Clifford Miranda and Climax Lawrence, with Mahesh Gawli manning the defence.

Miranda entered in the second half as Dempo piled up the pressure by almost camping in the Air India half. The airmen, though, held firm. Ekka came to their rescue when he made a double save from attempts by Borges and Rebello.

The winner came courtesy a beautifully flighted cross by Nepoleon Singh from the right flank which did not allow the goalkeeper to attack the ball. Koli made a great late run into the box and slammed home.

But Air India had to endure some anxious moments as Dempo threw everything at them in the final quarter.

Immediately after going behind, Chidi hit the upright while a strong shot from inside the area by Silva was palmed away by a diving Ekka.

Dempo had another cause for worry as Miranda suffered an ankle injury soon after coming on and had to be replaced by Lawrence, who himself is recovering from a knock.

Central Railway took an early lead when Govin was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area off a corner and referee Pratap Singh pointed to the dreaded spot. The penalty was converted by Kasif Jamal, who beat Vinay Singh in the Churchill goal. But the Goan outfit did not trail for long.

A free-kick at the edge of the area was tapped towards Okolie and his shot went in after getting deflected by the defensive wall, leaving keeper Raghuvir Khanolkar stranded.

Churchill went ahead when Okolie latched on to an aerial ball and chipped the advancing custodian at the edge of the box to put Churchill ahead.

Whatever hopes Central Railway had of getting back into the match were quickly dashed after the restart.

A nice interchange of passes at the edge of the box saw the ball travel to Okolie, who slammed home to complete his hat-trick.

Soon he had four when he collected a through ball from midfield and beat the hapless Central Railway defenders to find the net.

The Nigerian was not done yet and he added another when he gathered a cross from the right flank and booted home past Khanolkar, who was having a miserable day between the posts.

Mario Soares's team finally got a goal from a player other than Okolie six minutes from time Thangjam tapped a centre from another Nigerian Mboyo Iyomi in the unguarded net.

Mahindra United face Sporting Clube de Goa while JCT take on Salgaocar Sports Club in Sunday's quarter-finals.