Title aspirant Dempo pumped in three second half goals on their way to a thrilling 5-3 win over East Bengal in the 11th ONGC National Football League, played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
Both the teams were leveled at 2-2 at half time. Dempo scored through Robert Silva (2nd, 72nd), Ranty Martins (18th, 86th) and John Dias (84th), while Edmilson Marques (32nd, 46th) and Ashim Biswas (44th) were the goal-getters for East Bengal.
With this win, Dempo are three points ahead of Mahindra United and lead the table with 29 points from 15 matches. East Bengal remained on third place with 22 points from 15 matches.
Both the teams were reduced to 10 men in the closing stage of the match as referee Shaji Kurian gave marching orders to Dempo's defender Cresson Antao and East Bengal striker Edmilson Marques for fisting each other.
Dempo started off well with their midfield and upfront working like a well-oiled machine. They dictated terms for the first 30 minutes; took an early lead through Roberto Silva off a 20-yards free kick which ricocheted off the bar before finding the net.
The early goal put the East Bengal defense in disarray and Dempo who made series of moves increased the lead in the 18th minute.
A combined move on the left by Climax and Clifford Miranda saw the latter sending a low cross which Ranty Martins headed in, beating keeper Mondal all ends.
East Bengal who found the going tough, regrouped in the last quarter of the first-half and reduced the margin through Edmilson Marques in the 32nd minute through a free kick.
The goal spurred East Bengal, who attacked the rival goal with more vigour, mounting pressure on the rival defense and equalised in the 44th minute through Ashim Biswas who headed in, off a cross from the right, by Syed Nabi Rahim to have both the teams at 2-2 at half-time.
East Bengal took the lead after resumption in the 46th minute. Accepting a pass from S Malsawntluanga on the left, Edmilson Marques got the better of defender John Dias and Cresson Antao, raced into the box and beat keeper Satish Kumar with a low grounder to score his brace.
Dempo did not lose heart despite trailing and slowly took control over the proceeding. After missing couple of clear chances, they found the equaliser in the 72nd minute through Roberto Silva header off a measured cross from the right by Anthony Pereira.
Dempo then scored two more goals in a span of two minutes to seal the fate of East Bengal.
Clifford Miranda took the flag kick on the right and floated the ball to Roberto Silva whose shot was blocked by keeper Abhra Mondal and off the rebound John Dias shot in to regain the lead for Dempo.
Ranty Martins then scored his 13th goal to become the highest scorer along with Edmilson Marques and gave Dempo a convincing win in the end.
