Colaso is Dempo's golden boy

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI, AUG. 15. A mediocre game ended with a `golden goal' that raised a speck of doubt but no controversy as Dempo SC, Goa pipped BSF Jalandhar 1- 0 to remain in the run in the Federation Cup football tournament which commenced at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Wednesday.

The moment of the match came in the eighth minute of extra time when Stanley Colaso, one of the few senior members in the Dempo line-up, booted a goalward shot as the ball came in from a flag- kick by Mario Soares. The heavily tenanted BSF defence was beaten, so also was goalkeeper Kameshwar Singh, a junior India player.

As the ball looked set to sneak into the cage Mobi Singh dashed in to effect a header. Mobi Singh was positioned inside the cage when he headed, but had the ball crossed the goalline by then was the doubt. At least Referee Suresh's immediate action was not a whistle.

Almost instantly, as though to make the goal doubly sure, Felip Gomes shot in Mobi Singh's clearance and then came the scene of jubilation on the Goan side even as the BSF players looked at each other in shock and despair, for the defeat meant curtains in this knock-out format. Later Referee Suresh confirmed that the ball had crossed the goalline even as Mobi Singh headed, and so it was Stanley Colaso who had struck the golden goal.

The lung opener for the fortnight-long tourney did not deserve this end even if the end result was in keeping with the run of play. Playing without any match practice in what was its first outing after the transfer season, Dempo's struggle for cohesion was apparent. Worse, the team was without two of its key players - Levy Coelho and Minguel Rodrigues. Levy developed a kidney stone problem after landing in the city and was soon cooling his heels in hospital, while Minguel developed a groin strain and was left giving Levy company, when the team was crying out for their team work on the turf.

Be that as it may, what the desperate Goans presented was an exercise on how not to score goals. For there was everything in it that anybody would have loved to miss - the fumble at the goalmouth, failure to reach juicy crosses and, what is more, missing the angle in goalbound tries. As the team Coach, Armando Colaso was to say, ``what should have been done in the initial phase of the contest, the boys had to wait till the golden goal.'' Thus for most part goalmouth skirmishes formed the diet for the moderate gathering, nothing flattering despite the captive audience in the form of school students.

While a match is remembered for the goals, it can be said that a `golden goal' gives a special lustre to the act and to that extent it was not a bad start. For as Armando was to say, ``we needed a start and now watch out how the boys play next.'' Yes it will be FC Kochin which has to watch out for.

But none would have bargained for this finish after the way Dempo kept storming the BSF end. Makeshift striker, Alesh Shamaki, a regular defender, seemed to love his new role from the way he opened up the rival end. That is until defender Raghuvir Singh was able to get a measure of him. By then he had raised a few golden moments in the company of fast mover Clifford Miranda, before showing the cunning for the wrong act - feigning a tripped fall in the rival box. All that he earned was a yellow card.

If Dempo attacked, BSF not just repulsed but dared to take the fight to the rival end. The way Negi dashed and angled a centre (12th minute), from near flank there was an imminent goal with Sukhbir Singh in position but not goalkeeper Kameshwar. But Sukhbir contrived to target defender Gomes' leg and thus went a gilt-edged opportunity.

Dempo decided to hike the pace in the second session. A series of flag-kicks ensued, but the major gain the team earned was seeing the back of BSF defender Pardip Gurai (sent out with a red card after receiving his second booking). From the 57th minute then BSF played one man short and still looked none the worse for it, thanks to Dempo's continuing poor finishes. Perhaps the most unpardonable lapse by Dempo came in the 77th minute after Shamaki and Jose Colaco worked up a one-two and the resultant wall pass brought substitute Wilton Gomes in direct confrontation with BSF goalkeeper. Wilton fumbled. There was disbelief all around but BSF was not to ride the luck too long.

Earlier in what was a brief ceremony minus fanfare, the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, inaugurated the tournament with the conventional one line statement. Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, the AIFF President, welcomed her. The occasion was also utilised to honour a former Olympian Ahmed Khan, who was presented a gold sovereign by the Chief Minister.

Thursday's match: Indian Bank, Chennai v Sporting de Clube, Goa, 6 p.m.

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