The Hindu : Sport / Football : Sporting wins Super Cup

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Sunday, May 29, 2005

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Sport - Football

Sporting wins Super Cup

Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE: Sporting Club de Goa made up for its disappointment in not winning the National Football League title claiming the ONGC Super Cup with a 3-0 defeat of Dempo Sports Club at the Corporation stadium here on Saturday.

For all the goals and the individual brilliance shown by Sporting's Dudu Omagbemi this derby between the two Goan sides was a tame affair.

A steady drizzle and the consequent soft underfoot conditions deterred the two teams from going all out.

Dempo, aiming for a third straight title after the Federation Cup and the just-concluded NFL, was more affected.

While it missed the services of star player, Ranty Martins, what was surprising was the fact that the side, after some early probings, fell back silently and allowed its rival to go ahead unchecked.

In sharp contrast, Sporting looked assured in the midfield as well as in attack, with Dudu and Chidi Edeh at the helm. The move that led to the first goal came from Wilton from the right.

His cross was met by Edeh but when it looked that the header was all set to go out of play, Dudu stepped in brilliantly and guided the ball to the far post beyond the reach of the Dempo custodian, Satish Kumar.

The NFL's best player and top-scorer once again proved his efficiency when he orchestrated the consolidating second goal. Racing in from nowhere, Dudu virtually snatched the ball from Dempo full back Majeck Bolaji and instead of taking a direct shot, waited for Edeh to join him and allowed the latter to conquer Satish Kumar with a full-blooded right-footer.

The game was just 24 minutes old then, and with Dempo showing no signs of putting up a fightback, it was Sporting all the way through the remaining period of the first session.

The story was almost a repeat after the break and though Dempo tried to gain lost ground with quick substitutions, but again it was Sporting which struck and completed the rout through Dudu with 10 minutes remaining for the final whistle.

Sporting, besides the glittering Cup, was also awarded a cheque for Rs. 10 lakhs. The Kerala Governor, R.L. Bhatia, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes.

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