Margao, Sep 28 (IANS) JCT shocked defending champions Dempo 2-1 to make a runaway start in the second edition of the football I-League here Sunday.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco had already said that I-League is not his priority right now because the club is in the semi-final of the AFC Cup tournament. But his boys showed intent at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to start the campaign on a winning note. Dempo dominated the game but the Punjab club scraped past with a lucky win with strikes from Brazilian striker Eduardo da'Silva Escobar and Balwant Singh. Nicholas Borges helped Dempo reduce the margin.
Dempo paid heavily due to the chances missed by strikers Nigerian Ranty Martin and Congolese Mboyo Iyomi. The forwards got lot of support from their Brazilian playmaker Beto and India midfielder Climax Lawrence but still failed to capitalise.
JCT took the lead in the 17th minute when Escobar chested a fine cross from Daljeet Singh and shot past a hapless Abhijit Mondal. Balwant doubled the lead in the 64th minute after he found himself at the receiving end of a clever Baljeet Saini pass.
Borges pulled one back in the 79th minute after he was fed by Beto.
Dempo coach Armando said he was not disappointed with the result as he is looking at the AFC Cup semi-final.
'My boys played well and we dominated the game. I am not disappointed with the result. Our target is now the AFC Cup.'
JCT coach Sukhwinder Singh admitted his team was lucky to get two points from the away match.
'They are the best team in the country now. And today, they showed it again by maintaining the domination. We are lucky to get full points from the match,' he said.
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