The Hindu : Sport / Football : Dempo edges past Fransa Pax

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Sunday, May 01, 2005

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Sport - Football

Dempo edges past Fransa Pax

MARGAO: Dempo survived a scare in the dying minutes but managed to edge past Fransa Pax 2-1 to be in contention for the title in the National Football League encounter played at the Nehru stadium here today.

Dempo dominated the first half and took the lead in the 20th minute, after some initial resistance from Fransa, when Clifford Miranda uncorked a fierce carpet-drive that found the far post.

R.C. Prakash, Ranty Martins and Clifford Miranda combined well upfront and harried the rival defence. Fransa's goal-keeper Kalyan Chaubey had to make saves off Prakash's attempt twice at the goalmouth and once from Riston Rodrigues.

However, Prakash managed to increase the lead in the dying minutes of the first half when he tapped home a low cross from Martins.

Fransa, who could not test the rival goal-keeper Satish Kumar seriously in the first half, pulled one back in the dying minutes when substitute Biju Kumar scored off a cross by Benjamin Ansa after Satish Kumar made a brilliant save off Joseph Igor.

With this win Dempo moved to the second spot in the league standings behind Sporting Clube De Goa with 41 points from 19 matches, while Fransa remained in fifth place with 29 points from 20 matches.

Referee Pradip Kumar showed the yellow cards to Fransa's Sanjeev Maria, Joseph Igor and Dempo's Bolaji Majeck. Goal-keeper Satish Kumar was named the man of the match.

Defending champion East Bengal and Salgaocar have their tasks cut out as they face each other in a crucial match here on Sunday.

A win is important for both sides though for contrasting reasons. While East Bengal is looking to retain the title, Salgaocar is fighting for survival.

East Bengal, aiming for the title for the third time in a row has 39 points from 18 matches, and is three points behind leader Sporting Clube De Goa.

East Bengal needs to win three and draw one of its last four matches and cannot afford to lose on Sunday. — PTI

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