Dempo SC 5-0 Shillong Lajong FC – Armando Colaco’s Side Continue Their Winning Streak

Dempo Sports Club opened up a six point lead at the top of the table after demolishing Shillong Lajong FC 5-0 in a seventh round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.

The visitors were left gasping for breath as Dempo recorded their seventh consecutive victory in the competition.

Dempo led 3-0 at the breather with a couple of goals from Anthony Pereira and one from Nigerian striker Koko Sakibo. In the second session, Ranti Martins and Clifford Miranda added to Lajong’s misery.

Dempo were always the favourites for this clash, but the manner in which the former champions attacked right from the word go would have surprised Lajong. The short-passing game was always going to be Dempo’s main weapon but it turned out that the killer long balls, in the end, made all the difference.

Lajong also lived by the sword as they played an open game and eventually they died by the sword, too, as Dempo exploited the huge gaps.

Dempo surged ahead early when Samir Naik relayed the ball to Ranti Martins. The Nigerian striker back-heeled the ball to Pereira who did well to cut past a defender and then let go a left-footer that saw no answer from the rival goalkeeper.

Dempo soon made it 2-0 as Pereira this time turned provider and Koko Sakibo continued his rich vein of form to give the move the finishing touches.

Pereira kept switching flanks making it difficult for Lajong defenders to police him.

True to form, Pereira killed the match as a contest in the 35th minute when he headed home a measured cross from Samir Naik.

In the second session, Lajong did try to make a match out of the tie, and came close on at least two occasions but substitutes Iyikobe Christopher and C Lallawmzuala could not come up with the final pass that translates good moves into goals.

Dempo added two more goals in the second session as Ranti and Clifford Miranda added their names to the scoresheet in quick succession.