The game between Mumbai FC and Dempo SC went according to script as Armando Colaco’s boys brushed aside Khalid Jamil’s inexperienced unit at the Cooperage Stadium, Mumbai to register a winning start to their I-League campaign 2009-10 season.
Mumbai FC started with an all Indian line-up while Dempo SC were missing two of their regular defenders in the form of Mahesh Gawli and Samir Naik. Both teams started slowly and took time to find their feet. The only noteworthy action was Abhishek Yadav pull back for Subash Chakraborty whose shot went over.
Sunil Chhetri’s first time ball released Ranti but his first touch let him down with an alert Peter Siddiqui warding off the danger.
The Goan side eventually found their way through the in-form Beto who slotted in from close range after Ranti Martins capitalised on the mistake made by Anas, who couldn’t clear on time in the 21st minute.
Four minutes later, Sunil Chhetri found the back of the net after Ranti Martins centered from the left.
Khalid Jamil took 28 minutes to make his first change as he brought in Alex Ambrose for Kamaljeet Kumar, who was the best of the back four.
Climax Lawrence released Valeriano Rebello on the right whose curling cross wasn’t well controlled by Nicolau Borges. A few minutes later, Ranti Martin’s header went wide.
Mumbai FC left far too much space which allowed the Dempo midfield to control and dictate the proceedings at their will. The Mumbai team’s midfielders were seen running aimlessly and the strikeforce lacked any penetration relying only on some long balls.
The coordination between Sunil Chhetri and Ranti Martins was on display as the former found the Nigerian whose attempt to find the far post missed the target by not much.
Just six minutes into the second half and Anthony Pereira’s cornerkick saw Sunil Chhetri’s side-kick being cleared only as far as Climax who slot it into the far corner.
Around the hour mark, Anthony Pereira ran past three Mumbai FC shirts but his final shot from outside the box went over.
Anthony Pereira’s cross saw a Ranti Martins header being easily collected by Amit Singh Roy. The stand-in Dempo skipper was having a great game as his shot came off the post. Nicolau Bores sent the rebound into the orbit.
With Beto and Chhetri being rested, Dempo gave Joaquim Abranches and Peter Carvalho a run in.
Mumbai FC pulled one back out of nowhere when Nishant Mehra’s flagkick was headed home by Peter Siddiqui in the 78th minute.
Ranti’s bad luck continued as his left footer came off the bar after goalkeeper Amit Singha Roy tipped it over the bar.
The match ended with the same scoreline with Mumbai FC having much to ponder upon if they hope to do well.
Goalscorers: Beto (Dempo) 21', Sunil Chhetri (Dempo) 25', Climax Lawrence (Dempo)51', Peter Siddiqui (Mumbai FC) 78'
Courtesy: Goal.com
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 3 October 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.