Dempo down JCT: Federation Cup

Dempo, Goa, hung on to a first-half goal to edge out twice champions JCT Mills, Phagwara, and enter the semi-finals of the Federation Cup football tournament, in Madras, on Thursday night.

In a evenly contested encounter, Dempo's all-important goal came in the 30th minute, when Nigerian Alesh Shamaki came up with a brilliant header off a fine cross from nippy winger Levy Coelho.

Dempo are the second Goa team to make it to the last four stage. Sporting Clube de Goa made the grade on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Calcutta's Tollygunge Aggragami. Ironically, both the teams will meet in the semi-final, on August 26.

Rampal was the main playmaker for JCT. He set up at least six openings but none of his strikers could capitalise on them. Sukhit Singh, in particular, was unfortunate to see two of his shots hit the upright.

For Dempo, medio Mario Soares, Clifford Miranda and Jose Coelho created the openings and struck a good understanding with strikers Sukdev Arwade, Levy Coelho and Alesh Shamaki.

JCT held the edge for the first 15 minutes, but once the Goans settled down they played to a plan and used short passes to unsettle the rival defence. As a result JCT goalkeeper Arvind Kumar was always kept on tenterhooks.

In the second session, JCT's best chance came in the second minute but Harvinder Singh (junior) had the mortification of seeing his header crash into the upright.

Meanwhile, Bombay's Mahindra United, who take on Zee Churchill in Friday's quarter-finals are in deep trouble as six of their players are down with malaria.

Jules Alberto and Raman Vijayan have been admitted to a local hospital, while team manager Henry Menezes said Biby Thomas, goalkeeper Virender Singh, key defender Farook Hyder and coach Harish Rao are also undergoing treatment.

Complete Coverage: Federation Cup, 2001