Silveira brace floors Tollygunge

A brace by Francis Silveira helped Dempo score a convincing 4-1 victory over Tollygunge Agragami in the Oil PSU-seventh National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Tuesday.

Dempo, who dominated the first-half, led 2-0 at half-time and scored through defender Olubiyi Majek Bolaji (20th), Wilton Gomes (24th) and Francis Silveira (90th, injury time) while Akeem Aboanle reduced the margin for Tollygunge.

The victory was Dempo's fourth and took their points tally to 13 from six matches. Tollygunge have four points from four matches.

Dempo started off well and dictated terms in the first-half with remarkable ball possession and after missing two scoring chances, surged into the lead through a flag-kick.

Wilton Gomes, from the left, took the flag-kick and floated the ball to defender Stanley Colaco, whose header was saved on the goalline by Sujoy Dutta; off the rebound, Bolaji banged home.

Four minutes later, Dempo increased the lead through Wilton. A combined move by Wilton and Sergy Andreev on the right saw the latter relaying the ball to Wilton, who unleashed a right-footer which hit the inner edge of the bar before finding the net to have Dempo leading 2-0 at the lemon break.

After the cross-over, Tollygung reduced the margin in the 48th minute through Akeem off a defensive lapse.

Dempo consolidated their lead in the 90th minute through Francis Silveira. Bijen Singh passed the ball to Clifford Miranda, who, without any hesitation, passed to Silveira, whose angular left-footer found the net.

Soon after, Silveria scored again as the match went into injury time. Receiving a pass from Johnny D'Cruz, he chipped the ball over the head of onrushing goalkeeper Arindam Ghose into the goal.

Complete Coverage: 7th National Football League 2002-03