JCT dump Dempo as fans go berserk

Another incident almost immediately after, between a member of the organising committee and another Nigerian in the JCT side — Emeka Achilefu — added to confusion and crowd unrest.

It was quite some time before the JCTsquad made their way to the dressing room and when they did, they braved plastic water bottles that fortunately went wide off target.

Bhupinder Singh put JCT ahead in the first minute after half-time, making Dempo goalkeeper Dominic D’Souza pay for a weak clearance, by heading into an untenanted net.

But the scores were level four minutes later when mid-fielder Antonio slotted home after receiving Francis Silveira’s centre across the face of the goal.

After a flurry of bookings, climaxing in a red card for a second yellow shown to Dempo defender Lawrence Gonsalves, Nigerian striker Emeka deflected Manjit Singh’s power-packed shot from Hardip Singh’s corner to put JCT 2-1 ahead in the 66th minute.

Dempo, a man short faded rapidly as the Phagwara millmen took total control.JCT, who sealed the title last season with thumping 4-1 win over the same side at the very venue, then rubbed it in through a penalty that drew derision from a sparce home crowd.

Dempo skipper Christopher Ihegborow was adjudged tohave brought down Emeka after an airborne attempt to win the ball and the Nigerian put JCT further ahead himself with a fluent kick to the right of D’Souza from the spot in the 72nd minute.

JCT took the pitch without star Nigerian striker Stephan Abrowei, sitting out with two yellow cards. Dempo had to do without mid-fielder Itocha Singh and Shanta Kumar — both nursing injuries.

Brazillian Joao Soares, along with compatriot Antonio, however, returned from suspensions. It may not have helped Dempo notch a win but Soares, who picked up a red card against FC Kochin and missed the last game against Churchill Brothers, won the man-of-the-match award today.

Dempo manager Custodio Almeida blamed the officiating for his side’s fortunes. “Today’s refereeing was the worst we have encountered so far in the League,” Almeida said. “The game was going very well at 1-1 before the referee spoilt it all.”

JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh refrained from commenting on the officiating.The Punjab side embark on theirsecond leg with a match against Indian Bank in New Delhi on February 8 while Dempo take on Churchill Brothers on the same day.

Dempo’s first half domination fetched chances for Silveira, sadly lacking his scoring touch, medio Anderson Rebeiro and Antonio. But from the home side’s point of view, the most agonising miss came with half-time beckoning.

Silveira, nicknamed `Pocket’, did well to draw out the defence after latching on to a pass from Antonio, but his attempt hit the far post.

JCT rarely threatened in the first session, save an attempt by Musa Ali that drew D’Souza to a spectacular save, but came into the second half in different vein.

After rival citadels fell once each in five minutes after resumption, things turned physical and a spate of yellow cards (eight in all) saw Dempo’s Antonio, Lawrence Gonzalves (twice) and Christopher booked.

The JCT players picking up yellow cards were Harjinder Singh, Seriki and Hardip who joined Harshranjit Singh, booked in the first half.

NationalFootball League standings

TEAM M W D L GF GA

PTS MOHUN BAGAN 9 6 2 1 10 4 20

AIR-INDIA 9 4 5 – 9 5 17

SALGAOCAR S C 9 4 2 3 8 9 14

F C KOCHIN 8 4 2 3 15 12 14

EAST BENGAL 7 2 2 3 7 8 11

JCT, PHAGWARA 9 3 3 3 8 6 12

CHURCHILL BROS 8 2 2 4 8 11 8

DEMPO S C 8 2 2 4 11 14 8

INDIAN BANK 7 2 – 5 6 10 6

MAHINDRAS 8 1 2 5 3 8 5