Sport

Dempo cruises to victory

NEW DELHI: Dempo Sports Club (Goa) toyed with qualifier Air Force XI 5-0 to storm into the quarterfinals of the 120th Osian’s Durand Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Thursday.

Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh warmed up for the coming season as the defending champion Dempo made a confident start to its campaign. Chidi, who moved to the Goan outfit from JCT Mills, played a part in four of the five goals that Dempo scored.

Dempo will take on Air-India in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Air-India defeated a new-look New Delhi Heroes, coached by Chima Okorie, 3-1 with Nigerian Bashiru M. Abass striking twice.

Abass scored the opening goal in the 17th minute, heading in from the back post on a corner taken by Nepoleon Singh. Heroes did well to level things soon after the interval when Malswama struck in the 48th minute.

Abass’s 64th minute strike and Samson Singh’s 70th minute goal carried Air-India through. Dempo got into the groove rightaway with Chidi keeping the Air Force defence on its toes.