Dempo SC began their 30th Federation Cup campaign in style, thrashing State Bank of Travancore (SBT) 3-0 in a one-sided affair at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday.
SBT was no match for Dempo as the Goan side banged in first two goals in the opening 15 minutes.
With their ace striker Ranty Martins, who is nursing a hamstring pull, opting to sit out, Dempo displayed commendable performance throughout the match, which would definitely boost the morale of coach Aramando Colaco.
While youngster Clifton Gonsalves, who banged in the second goal, displayed a cool temperament up front in absence of Ranty, Roberto Mendes Silva set the piece for the strikers, proving to be the real playmaker as SBT defence was in a complete disarray.
SBT, who made the cut in the new format of the Federation Cup becoming the toppers in preliminary round in Group A, did get a solitary chance to reduce the margin but simply the Travancore side found it hard to find the Dempo goal.
Clifford Miranda gave Dempo the lead in 12th minute which exposed the chinks in SBT's defence.
Miranda anticipated well a brilliant cross from Joaquim Abranches from the right flank and placed himself perfectly in front of SBT goalmouth only to his header rebound from the crossbar.
However, with SBT custodian PV Harshal Rehman out of his goal line, Miranda got a second chance from the rebound and this time he did not falter to help Dempo go 1-0 up.
Just before SBT realised their gaping loopholes, Dempo banged in another within a space of one minute through Clifton.
Taking advantage of a loose defence at the goalmouth, Clifton got the better of SBT defender Sarath BT without losing his cool and finished it off in style in the 13th minute.
Dempo completed the thrashing with the third goal coming in the 48th minute, courtesy Anthony Pereira.
Had it not for an off-side in the 59th minute, SBT would have gone down 0-4.
In between, SBT got a solitary chance but their striker R Kannan could only find the safe hands of Satish Kumar.
The win helped Dempo sit on top of Group A with three points.
