I-League: Dempo beat Indian Arrows to stay fourth

MARGAO: Dempo stayed on course to defend their title after they cruised to a comfortable 5-2 victory over Indian Arrows in their 22nd round I-League match at the Nehru stadium on Saturday.
The win allowed Dempo to take their points tally to 41, two less than league leaders Salgaocar, who have a chance to re-open the five-point lead at the top when they meet Churchill Brothers on Sunday.
Dempo, however, continued to occupy the fourth position.
Dempo got the start they were looking for when Iranian Rouhollah Samienia gave them the lead in only the fourth minute.
The young Indian Arrows side stunned Dempo when Shilton D'Silva scored a gem of a goal in the 7th minute, but Dempo replied strongly with two goals each from Brazilian midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva and Ranty Martins.
Jeje Lalpeklua scored a late penalty to briefly bring some respectability to the Indian Arrows scoreline.
Favourites Dempo started confidently and moved the ball nicely at the start.
Their experience of building moves proved too strong for Indian Arrows and, in one such move, Samienia got into the right position, rose high above the rival stopper-backs and headed home a Mendes cross into the goal.
Indian Arrows did not allow that setback to unsettle them and instead of going into a shell, launched a counter offensive that saw Shilton score from the top of the box with a powerful long-ranger.
Dempo, who were briefly rattled by that equaliser, once again relied on their experience to take control of the proceedings.
They held the ball for long spells and played Indian Arrows out of the match.
Dempo took the lead for the second time in the game in the 30th minute when Lalrin Dika was found guilty of bringing down Joaquim Abranches inside the zone.
Referee Denny Jacob was quick to award a penalty, which Mendes scored with ease.
Dempo made it 3-1 at the stroke of half time when Martins controlled a ball from Mendes to score past Indian Arrows goalkeeper Jagroop Singh from an acute angle.
In the second session, Ranty made it 4-1 when he collected a through ball from Roberto and lifted the ball above the onrushing goalkeeper in the 61st minute.
Indian Arrows won a penalty, which Jeje Lalpeklua converted in the 72nd minute, to make it 4-2.
The penalty was awarded after Samienia fouled substitute Jagtar Singh.
Dempo, however, were still hungry for goals which Mendes provided with a low grounder in the dying minutes of the match.