Junior Obagbemiro's 82nd minute goal guided Sporting Clube de Goa a solitary goal win over Dempo to remain on top of the table in the ONGC I-League at Nehru stadium on Saturday.
After a goalless first half which Dempo dominated, Sporting went all out in the last quarter of the match and scored the all important goal eight minutes from the final whistle through Obagbemiro.
Sporting now have 18 points from seven matches to lead the table. Dempo, who registered their third loss, remained on seven points from six matches.
Sporting were reduced to ten men in the 86th minute as Micky Fernandes earned his second booking from referee S Suresh.
Winning coach Vishwas Gaunkar was happy after the victory. "Our boys played to the plan keeping the forte intact and going for attack on counter, this paid dividend and we managed to score in the 82nd minute to keep the winning momentum going."
Dempo made their intention clear from the start as they played quick short passes followed by overhead passes to unsettle the rival defence with a series of raids.
Nicolau Borges, who played in place of injured Clifford Miranda, sent a cross from the left to Mboyo Iyomi but the latter was unlucky as his header hit the post in the third minute.
Climax Lawrence and Roberto Mendes D'Silva controlled the midfield as they kept the pressure on Sporting defence, but Dempo were unlucky not to get a goal in the 26th minute.
