Martins brace gives Dempo victory

A double strike by Ronty Martins propelled Dempo Sports Club, Goa, to a 3-1 victory over Everready, Kolkata, in the Federation Cup Football Championship in Bangalore on Thursday.

Dempo started proceedings impressively, scoring in the second minute through Nigerian import Martins, who landed the ball in the net with precision following a cross from Brazilian import Cristiano junior.

Minutes later, S K Sanjib made a good scoring effort for Everready, but Dempo custodian Satish Kumar foiled it.

Another attempt by Sankha Roy Chowdhury in the sixth minute did not materialise as the ball was gathered by Kumar.

Everready had a good opportunity to equalise in the 20th minute, but forward Eugene Jlah Gray fumbled on an immaculate pass from by Sanjib. Gray, on intercepting the pass, tried to head the ball into the net, but it went over the bar.

Everready finally got the equaliser in the 57th minute through Jayanta Sen, who scored off a rebound from goalkeeper Kumar.

With both sides trying to outsmart each other and gain the upper hand, it was a solo effort by Martins that gave Dempo the lead in the 73rd minute.

Enthused by the success, the Dempo players stepped up their attacks and scored another goal four minutes later when Cristiano junior's shot off a free-kick rolled into the net, with Amit Singha Roy, the Everready custodian, watching helplessly.

Referee Saji Kurian awarded the free kick when Everready defenders obstructed Cristiano.

Thereafter, a couple of good efforts by Everready's Jayanta Sen went in vain.