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Dempo rallies to hold Home United

Abhijit Sen Gupta

HYDERABAD: Dempo SC Goa came from behind to hold Home United FC of Singapore to a 1-1 draw in the first leg quarterfinal of the AFC Cup 2008 football championship at the Gachibowli stadium here on Tuesday.

Early on Home United’s livewire midfielder Peres Spindula de Oliveira essayed a powerful drive which was palmed over the bar by Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal.

In the 20th minute, a neat header by Mahesh Gawli off a flag kick had Home United goalie Lewis Lionel bring off a smart save.

Later Peres Spindula’s thundering free kick from 35 yards had Mondal leaping high to deflect over the bar. But the Dempo goal fell five minutes before the break.

Spindula advanced from the right and then gave a minus pass to Mohammad Rosman Bin Sulaiman who sent in a grounder from 35 yards. The ball went through a maze of players inside the box and entered the net. The goalkeeper Mondal seemed to have been unsighted and reacted too late to prevent the fall of his citadel.

In the second session, Dempo dominated the exchanges for long spells but was unable to get the equaliser.

The Goan team put in a determined effort in midfield, building up moves on either wing but the hard working Lionel in the Home United goal managed to keep the Dempo attacks at bay.

But Dempo’s efforts finally paid off a few minutes before the long whistle when Mboyo Iyomi got his head to a flag kick and put the ball in from close range to the delight of the fans, who had come all the way from Goa to see the match.

The second leg will be played in Singapore later this month.

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