Dempo to face JCT in Durand Cup football final
Nov 26, 2006 - 1:20:50 AM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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And it was only in the injury time of the extra time that the Phagwara team found the winner through Chiddi. A former Sporting striker, he found the ball following a goalmouth melee and didn't waste any chance in sending it into the goal, past the goalkeeper.
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By RxPG News Service,
[RxPG] New Delhi, Nov 25 - Dempo Sports Club of Goa will clash with Jagatjit Cotton Textile - Mills of Phagwara in the final of the 119th Osian's Durand Cup football here Monday.
In the semi-finals Saturday, Dempo defeated 16-time champions Mohun Bagan 2-0 to earn their maiden final berth while five-time winners JCT beat Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 in extra time at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Brazilian striker Beto - and Anthony Pereira - scored in Dempo's win, while Edeh Chiddi - netted the lone goal for JCT.
The losing teams receive Rs.150,000 each.
Dempo were in the attacking mood right from the start and capitalised on Mohun Bagan's weaknesses in the defence to enter the final of the world's third oldest tournament that was launched in 1888.
Dempo took the lead when Beto's 30-yard powerful right-footer from the edge of the box foxed Mohun Bagan custodian Sangram Mukherjee. It looked like there was a bit of uneven bounce just before he touched the ball but failed to prevent it from entering the net.
An unmarked Pereira doubled the lead when he chipped in a Ranty Martin free kick in to virtually sound the death knell for Mohun Bagan with 20 minutes left for the regulation time.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco had his plans cut out from the start to stop Mohun Bagan's star striker Jose Ramirez Barretto. The Brazilian player was well marked by Dempo defender Sameer Naik and was not given any room to show his craftsmanship.
Mohun Bagan, without the services of Bhaichung Bhutia, Sushil Singh and Sanjeev Maria, looked like a disjointed unit and hardly made a positive move in the match.
On the other hand, Dempo made regular forays in the Mohun Bagan citadel with forwards Ranty and Beto, with good support from midfielders Clifford Miranda and Anthony.
Miranda also came close to scoring in the 80th minute after being fed by Ranty from the left edge of the box. He aimed for the far post and was unlucky as his grounded shot missed the net by a whisker.
Eduardo Coelho stood out in the Mohun Bagan defence but didn't get much support from the ageing Dulal Biswas and the absence of Maria, who is away for the Asian Games, was clearly felt.
JCT captain Chiddi led from front with the all-important goal in the dying minutes of the game in the extra time that earned them their sixth final appearance.
Both teams failed to break the deadlock in the regulation time, though they had equal opportunities to score but they went begging.
Last year's finalist Sporting Clube controlled the proceedings with forwards Dudu Omagbemi and Ernst Jerrimiah in the first half. As early as in the eighth minute they had a chance when Jerrimiah had only the JCT goalkeeper Kalyan Choubey to beat, but his shot kissed the far post on its way out.
Dudu had another easy chance in the injury time of the second half when his header beat Choubey but Harpreet Singh made a brilliant save to clear the ball.
JCT winger Harish Sharma was most impressive as he fed Chiddi with his clinical crosses that gave the Sporting defenders butterflies in their stomach.
Both Chiddi and Parveen Kumar made some good moves but failed to convert any. In the 70th minute, Sporting goalkeeper Luis Barretto made a brilliant save on the line to thwart a Chiddi header.
And it was only in the injury time of the extra time that the Phagwara team found the winner through Chiddi. A former Sporting striker, he found the ball following a goalmouth melee and didn't waste any chance in sending it into the goal, past the goalkeeper.
Sporting's Felipe Gomes was adjudged the Man of the Match and was awarded Rs.10,000.
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