By IANS
Margao : Climax Lawrence scored a last-minute goal as Dempo Sports Club roared back into title contention with 2-1 win over Jagatjit Cotton Textile (JCT) Mills, Phagwara, in the I-League football tournament here Thursday.
Dempo came from behind, fighting off an early Sunil Chettri goal as Lawrence struck once in each session to give Dempo’s title chances an overwhelming boost at Nehru Stadium, Goa.
Lawrence’s goal helped Dempo (30 points) open a four-point gap at the top of the table. The gap could, however, narrow down to just one point should Churchill Brothers Sports Club overcome Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in another crucial match later in the day at Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Dempo should have clinched the match inside 70 minutes, but they squandered a number of good scoring opportunities that would have crippled the visitors right at the start.
JCT were left exposed right at the start when Nicolau Borges found himself all alone inside the JCT penalty zone. However, JCT goal-keeper Karanjit Singh brilliantly parried Nicolau’s shot away for a corner.
JCT took the lead against the run of play. An impressive Baljit Singh Saini tore Dempo’s defence apart with an incisive pass in the 18th minute; Sunil Chettri showed good anticipation and made the best of the opportunity with a good finish.
It did not take long for Dempo to make their intentions clear. Ranty Martins unleashed a stunning pile driver, but Karanjit effected a good save.
Edeh Chidi then came close to scoring, but had the Nigerian striker not delayed in taking a shot at the goal an equaliser was there for the taking.
Dempo, however, restored parity just before the half time whistle. Anthony Pereira picked out Lawrence inside the penalty area. Lawrence shrugged off two defenders who were shadowing him, made space for himself and came up with a lunging header.
Once Dempo equalised, there was no looking back. After the change of ends, Dempo were all over the rival territory but a fruitful move that turns into a gaol was missing.
Julius Akpele and goal-keeper Karanjit Singh kept JCT in the hunt with some daredevil play. Akpele, in fact, made two goal line saves while Karanjit seemed in fine form under the JCT horizontal bar.
After at least half a dozen narrow misses, the JCT citadel crumbled in the final minute of regulation time.
Lawrence, again, was the destroyer as the midfielder showed remarkable poise to trap a Martins overhead pass, beat his marker with a delicate touch and, under heavy pressure, strike the ball past Karanjit.