A second half header by Ranti Martins was enough for Dempo to go past Mumbai FC at Shahu Maharaj Stadium, Kolhapur, Thursday. Mumbai had Abhishek Yadav and Henry Ezeh upfront with Ebi Sukore operating behind them. Armando Colaco started with Marcus Peixoto, Siavash Samenia, Mahesh Gawli, who recovered in time from dehydration and the knock on the head, and Valeriano Rebello in what was a makeshift defence while Nicolau Borges filled in for Clifford Miranda.
The first half was a rather cagey affair as the home side didn’t allow Dempo the space they so crave for to operate. With Laxmikant Kattimani between the sticks for Dempo, Mumbai players were quite ambitious as they resorted to long range attempts to test the former Vasco lad.
Ranti Martins’ diving header around the half hour mark from a low cross found the back of the net but the linesman surprisingly ruled it off-side much to the dismay of Dempo players.
Colaco introduced Joaquim Abranches at the start of the second session for Nicolau Borges and that turned the tide of the game. Except for an attempt from close range by Henry Ezeh in the opening seconds after the break, Mumbai were kept quiet for the next half hour or so.
Beto headed it over the bar from inside the six yards and also in his attempt to place the ball into the top corner once again saw it miss the target.
The goal finally arrived in the 71st minute as Ranti put his head to good use from an Abranches cross from the far right after Dempo had taken a short corner.
The final ten minutes saw Dempo not being very adventurous as they stayed in their own half and made it compact at the back. Mumbai FC tried but their attacks lacked the venom as the game ended with Dempo taking away three important points.
To the surprise of those present, the man-of-the-match award was given to Siavash Samenia.
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