Dempo in Federation Cup final

Dempo Sports Club, Goa, staged a magnificent recovery to get the better of Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 to enter the final of the 24th Federation Cup football Tournament at the Nehru stadium, in Madras, on Sunday.

Trailing by a first-half goal, which came much against the run of play, Dempo struck twice in the second session to emerge deserving winners in the first semi-final.

They meet either Mahindra United or defending champions Mohun Bagan, who contest the second semi-final on Monday.

This is Dempo's second entry into the Federation Cup final. They lost to East Bengal in the 1996 final.

Till Samir Naik restored parity for Dempo, in the 28th minute of the second session, it looked as if Sporting Clube, which came through to the semis with a string of upsets including that of National Football League champions East Bengal, would maintain their winning streak.

They scored from the only clear chance they got and then defended stoutly, but in the end couldn't withstand the solid onslaught from their state mates.

Dempo should have been three goals to the good within the first quarter itself but their strikers were just unable to put the ball into the goal.

First, Levy Coelho made a good run from the right into the box, in the second minute, beat two defenders, but hit the side netting. Then, in the ninth minute, Wilton Gomes headed over a Mario Soares cross, and, in the 22nd minute, Sukhdev Arwade shot straight into goalkeeper Felix D'Souza from handstaking distance.

The early ascendancy of Dempo raised visions of a one-sided victory. But Francis Andrade found the net for Sporting Clube to change the complexion of the game. Following a free-kick, Dempo goalkeeper Francis Fernandes failed to hold on to Nicholas Pereira's pile-driver. The ball came off his chest and Andrade darted in and bulged the net.

Thereafter, Sporting Clube did everything that was needed to defend the goal. And they held on like they did in their upset victory over East Bengal. But after a couple of narrow misses early in the second session, Dempo finally tasted success.

A free-kick in the 73rd minute saw them draw level. After former India international Mario Soares sold a dummy, Samir Naik drove home a scorcher from 35yards to the left corner of the Sporting Clube goal, giving goalkeeper Felix D'Souza no chance whatsoever.

That goal was the shot in the arm for Dempo and they exerted tremendous pressure. The Sporting Clube defence, in which Alex Colaco stood out, caved in again. Levy Coelho was rewarded for his unyielding efforts in the 86h minute when he darted in well to meet a high cross from substitute Vincent Colaco and head to the top of the net.

Sporting Clube had chance for a late equaliser in injury time but substitute Clifford Chukwama sent the ball just out past an onrushing keeper Francis Fernandes.

Complete Coverage: Federation Cup, 2001