The Hindu : Sport / Football : Dempo SC emerges NFL champion

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Sunday, May 22, 2005

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Dempo SC emerges NFL champion

Sports Reporter

MARGAO: Federation Cup champion Dempo SC defeated Tollygunge Agragami 2-0 and emerged champion in the ONGC Cup National Football League (NFL) that concluded with its 22nd and final round of matches at various venues across the country.

Dempo topped the league with 47 points and pipped Sporting Clube de Goa, which suffered a 1-3 defeat against Mahindra United at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.

Sporting Clube led the points tally on the eve of the final round with 45 points but on the final day that mattered, the Goan club drew a blank as it faltered despite dominating its clash against Mahindra United.

Poor finishing, bad luck and Mahindra's doughty goalkeeper Sandip Nandy proved too tough a combination for Sporting Clube's African trio of Omagbemi Dudu, Chide Edeh and Adebayo Adewusi.

East Bengal third

In the end, Sporting Clube struck with 45 points had to rest content with the runner-up tag while another favourite East Bengal suffered a shock 1-3 defeat against Vasco SC at Siliguri and slipped to the third spot with 43 points.

"We dedicate this victory to our Christiano Junior," coach Armando Colaco said.

After a barren first half, Dempo's R.C. Prakash slammed in off a Clifford Miranda volley in the 60th minute. Clifford was again in the thick of action and in the 78th minute, his cross from the left corner narrowly missed team-mate Stanley Colaco but an alert Ranty Martins was alert enough to slot in.

Meanwhile at the Nehru Stadium, it was a case of `so near and yet so far' for Sporting Clube. Tipped to defeat Mahindra United and emerge champion, Sporting struggled for rhythm in the initial minutes while the Mumbai outfit's Brazilian striker Flavio De Rodrigues and Jatin Bisht fired a few volleys.

Dudu disappoints

The tide however changed and Sporting began to attack in waves as first Chidi Edeh and then Adebayo Adewusi found their right-footers either bouncing off the crossbar or wedging into Sandip Nandy's gloves. The duo's striking partner Dudu, the tournament's highest scorer with 21 goals, however failed to leave a mark in the match that mattered most for his team. Mahindra's Flavio meanwhile surged into the rival flank and was brought down by Felip Gomes inside the box. Referee Krishnan Ramachandran showed the spot and Flavio converted in the 40th minute but the lead proved short-lived as Wilton Gomes headed a Dudu's volley in, in the 42nd minute.

In the second half, Sporting Clube itching for a victory went all out, but last minute glitches undid the efforts. Substitute K. Koluthungan scored off a Flavio corner in the 81st minute and five minutes later Flavio's solo run bulged the net to leave Mahindra 3-1 victors.

The points table (read as position, team, victory, draw, loss, goals for, goals against, goal difference, points): 1. Dempo SC 22-14-5-3- 27-16-(+11)-47; 2. Sporting Clube de Goa 22-14-3-5-46-23-(+23)-45; 3. East Bengal 22-13-4-5-33-15-(+18)-43; 4. Mahindra United 22-8-11-3-29-21-(+8)-35; 5. Fransa FC 22-8-6-8-24-26-(-2)-30; 6. Salgaocar SC 22-7-7-8-26-24-(+2)-28; 7. JCT Mills 22-7-7-8-19-19-0-28; 8. Mohun Bagan 22-5-8-9-16-19-(-3)-23; 9. Churchill Brothers 22-5-8-9-23-32-(-9)-23; 10. Vasco SC 22-5-5-12-25-37-(-12)-20; 11.SBT 22-4-6-12-24-34-(-10)-18; 12. Tollygunge Agragami 22-3-8-11-20-45-(-25)-17.

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