Defending champions Dempo Sports Club put up a dazzling display to beat formidable Churchill Brothers 4-1 and maintained their unbeaten run in the 10th round of the ONGC I League championship match played at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday.
Edeh Chidi in the 44th minute, Ranty Martin in the 66th minute, Anthony Pereira in the 68th minute and substitute Joaquim Abranches in the injury minute of the second half scored for Dempo. Mboyo Iyomi reduced the margin for Churchill Brothers in the 85th minute.
With this win, Dempo maintained their position at the top of the table with 24 points from 10 outings. Churchill Brothers remained on the same 17 points from an equal number of outings.
Dempo, who have been performing well, toyed with the rivals right from the start but took time to settle down. Dempo drew first blood in the 44th minute through Chidi whose power-packed header found the net off a free-kick pass from Roberto Mendes Silva.
Inspired by the lead, Dempo continued to attack and increased their lead in the 66th minute through Martin off a penalty awarded to them by referee K Shankar when Churchill's Genius Zenith handled the ball in the penalty area. Martin converted the spot kick correctly to make it 2-0.
Dempo further consolidated their lead through Pereira in the 68th minute. The goal was a result of a fine combined move when Nicolas Borges passed to Martin who chested the ball to better-placed Pereira. Anthony shot into the net to make it 3-0.
Churchill reduced the margin in the 85th minute through Iyomi following a flag kick by D Raju.
Dempo put the last nail in Churchill's coffin in the injury minute of the second half through substitute Abranches who headed in a cross pass from Chidi to make it 4-1 and sealed the fate of Churchill Brothers.
Dempo's Anthony Pereira was adjudged the man of the match for his fine performance.
