RSS
ATOM
advertisement
I-League: Odafa Recreates The Magic To Break Dempo Hearts
The two giants of Goa and Indian football produced a classic...
08-Nov-2009 6:00:56 PM
Churchill Brothers and Dempo produced a memorable encounter at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday, with the champions emerging winners by a 3-2 scoreline. Odafa opened the scoring in the 8th minute from the spot after Kalu was brought down inside the box, but Ranti Martins equalized from an Anthony Pereira cross in the 23rd minute.
Dempo then took the lead seven minutes later courtesy a moment of genius from Ranti Martins, but two late goals in the second half from Felix Chimaokwu and Odafa sealed Dempo's fate.
Churchill Brothers started with Lalit Thapa in goal for the second game running, while Dempo started with more or less their first choice eleven, given injuries to Gawli and Naik.
And it was Thapa whose goal was under threat inside 13 seconds, as a move down the right saw a cross come in for Sunil Chhetri, but the India star headed Pereira's cross wide.
However, Churchill regrouped well after the initial chance, and won a penalty in the 8th minute, after Kalu was brought down by Clifford Miranda. The decision seemed harsh, as Miranda only seemed to push him ever so slightly, but PK Bose blew the whistle, and Odafa made no mistake in slotting home past Tyson Caiado.
Both sides went at each other after that, without really threatening either goalkeeper, and Odafa did put the ball into the back of the net in the 21st minute, but the referee whistled for a foul. Odafa tried to win the ball from a dodgy backpass, and won the ball, but made contact with Tyson's shin as he did so.
And only two minutes later, Dempo added insult to injury as Ranti Martins popped up to equalize. It was the in-form Anthony Pereira who came up with the assist from the right, and Martins made no mistake to head past Lalit Thapa, who may have done better to save the header.
And then came the moment of the half in the 31st minute, as Ranti Martins gave Dempo the lead. A ball into the box was laid off by Chhetri, before Ranti chested it with his back to goal, and unleashed a superb bicycle kick to give his side the lead. Thapa had no chance, this time.
Dempo should have a penalty seven minutes later, as Chhetri ran down the left flank, cut inside past Rowilson, and went down under the defender's challenge, but PK Bose was having none of it. A stonewall penalty.
Churchill's only other chance came in the 41st minute courtesy some poor defending from Dempo, as he ran past their backline onto a clearance, but his shot was saved well by Tyson Caiado.
Chhetri continued to impress, as he charged down the left flank till the goalline, went past two players, and cut the ball back across goal, but Anthony Pereira blasted his shot over at the far post, in what was the last chance of the half.
Churchill started the second half better, dominating possession, and putting Dempo under more pressure than they did in the first. What was noticeable was that Vashum was more involved in their attacks, and was playing more as a forward.
And it was the youngster who created the first real moment of quality in the second period, cracking in a superb half volley from distance in the 53rd minute, but Tyson Caiado, who had a fantastic day in the office, made another good save.
Dempo didn't really create much, and their best chance originated from Valeriano's cross from the right, which was missed by all of three players, namely Ranti, Beto, and Clifford Miranda, and Churchill remained in the game.
Odafa showed his class just past the hour mark, when his powerful shot from the edge of the area was saved by Caiado, and the onrushing Robert ran a bit too far, and couldn't keep the rebound on target.
Churchill were dominating proceedings, with Dempo seemingly content with the one-goal lead, but Kalu's mistake in the 70th minute almost cost them the game, when Ranti rushed onto his misplaced pass and burst through the defence. However, he went for power and not placement, and the ball ricocheted off the near post.
Chhetri got into a few good positions, and got involved well, but he wasted them on most occasions, undoing all his good work in the first half.
Odafa had two good chances in the space of two minutes to equalize, but he missed both. The first was a free kick, which he took along the ground under a leaping wall, but it was deflected just wide of the far post.
The second one was an even better opportunity, as he toe-poked his shot over the bar after Felix had found him inside the box with a cross.
But it were these two who combined for Churchill's equalizer, which came about due to a misplaced pass from Anthony Pereira. His back pass played Odafa through, and Tyson Caiado reacted quickly to deflect the attempt onto the far post, but Felix followed the path of the ball to tap in the rebound.
The goal woke Dempo up, but it was too little too late, as Churchill were bossing the game all over the pitch, and it was Odafa who fittingly scored the winner in the 87th minute. A ball from the right was crossed to Dan Ito inside the box, who deftly played in Odafa with his first touch, and the skipper finished past Tyson with the outside of his right boot.
It was a thrilling end to the game, one which was quite well-competed for. Dempo will be disappointed coming out with nothing, but Churchill's title campaign is well and truly back on track.
Atishay Agarwal
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
10 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Presenting The Top Five Champions League Clashes Between England And Italy
With this season's last-16 having thrown up two Anglo-Italian ties, Goal.com looks back at the best encounters between clubs from these two great footballing nations
-
Mahesh Gawli lists his five favourite moments in an Indian jersey
Goal.com's Sarthak Dubey caught up with India's now-retired centre back Mahesh Gawli and asked him to choose his favourite five moments for India...
-
From the River reserves to the Argentina team in 18 months: The amazing rise of wonderkid Erik Lamela
The explosive midfielder burst onto the scene during the 2010 Apertura, and while River were condemned to the Nacional B Lamela has gone from strength to strength
-
Should Copa America 'Vanishing Spray' be introduced globally?
The spray, which has been designed to stop defensive walls from encroaching closer than 10 yards to the ball at free-kicks, is set to be discussed at next month's IFAB meeting
-
The alternative history of Ibrahimovic - what if the AC Milan striker had joined Arsenal in 2000?
Ibra came close to joining the Gunners in 2000 and has since embarked on a hugely successful career; but he was the one that got away for Arsene Wenger
Advertisement
Advertisement
