Former champion Dempo SC consolidated its position on top of the current standings downing a 10-man Pailan Arrows by two second session goals here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. Nigerian goal-machine Ranti Martins found the target on both occasions.
Dempo, which was surprised by Pune FC 1-0 in the previous round at home in Goa, returned to winning ways weathering the initial resistance from the youth team of the All India Football Federation. The Arrows successfully held back the Dempo attacks in the first half and also maintained the pressure on the opponent with effective counter-attacks.
This helped the young side maintain the deadlock despite getting numerically reduced after its goalkeeper Naveen Kumar was given a direct red card for a dangerous foul. The Arrows custodian made a lunge at the body of the onrushing Dempo forward Koko Sakibo, who was making an unchallenged run at the goal. Referee Bikramjit Purakayasta immediately flashed the red card at Naveen after the incident reducing Arrows to 10 men in the 34th minute.
Despite the numerical advantage Dempo could not breach the Arrows citadel as the first session ended barren. Ranti Martins helped Dempo take the lead eight minutes after the break (53rd) when he located a searching cross from Valeriano Rebello and followed it up with a header. The ball hit the hand of the Arrows substitute goalkeeper Sayan Roy but landed straight at the feet of Martins, who made no mistake pushing it home (1-0).
With Arrows left to defending mostly in the second half, Dempo found the insurance goal in the 82nd minute when Martins received an Anthony Pereira cross and finished it with an angular attempt (2-0).
The win took Dempo's tally to 43 points – which is six more than the second-placed Mohun Bagan (37) – from 20 matches while Arrows continue to remain winless with only eight points from 18 matches. The tournament will have a long 40-day break to accommodate national team's commitments and will see its 21st round resuming on March 24, according to the fixtures issued by the AIFF.
