Dempo beat Chirag United 2-1 to extend lead at the top

Dempo Sports Club extended their lead at the top to four points after their 2-1 win against Chirag United Kerala at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda Saturday.

Goals from India International Clifford Miranda and Ranty Martins in the first half were enough for Dempo to get back to winning ways. But the ghost of their last defeat to Prayag United came back to haunt in the second session as the team missed plenty of chances.

CK Vineeth scored a wonderful goal for the visitors in the 28th minute but despite having a couple of clear chances after the change of ends, Chirag United Kerala could not snatch what would have been a deserving point.

Dempo started confidently and opened the account earlier than they had probably planned. The breakthrough happened in the 5th minute when Peter Carvalho cut past three players worked his way ahead and picked out Clifford on the left. The Dempo midfielder had no problem in getting past the goalkeeper for Dempo’s opening goal.

Ranty Martins made it 2-0 in the 15th. This time it was Anthony Pereira who sliced open Chirag United’s defenceand put the ball on the platter for Ranty to finish from a narrow angle.

Dempo were put under pressure after Vineeth found the back of the net in the 29th minute. Vineeth’s bicycle kick stunned not just Dempo goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury but almost everyone else present at the stadium.

The second half, was a saga of missed chances. Carvalho had the best chance to increase Dempo’s lead but goalkeeper K Sharath proved equal to the challenge.

Chirag could have so easily snatched a draw but Vineeth, when provided with a good opportunity, ended placing the ball straight into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Sharath.