The big guns of Dempo Sports Club were too hot to handle for Indian Air Force XI as the defending champions stormed into the quarterfinals of Osian's Durand Cup football tournament with a thumping 5-0 victory at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Thursday.

Coach Armando Colaco's foreign recruits were on target as Ranti Martins (sixth), Roberto Silva (21st and 71st) and Chidi Edeh (45th and 75th) ensured there were no alarms for the reigning national league champions.
Dempo were playing without their national team stars - Samir Naik, Mahesh Gawli, Clifford Miranda and Climax Lawrence -- but their absence was hardly felt on the field.

The stars had been in action two days ago in the World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon in Chennai and Colaco did not feel the necessity to field them in the opening encounter. His decision was fully justified by his team on the day.

The Goan team meant business from the beginning and Chidi, especially, was hard to contain for the IAF defence. The Nigerian capitalised on some confusion in the rival penalty area and played a square pass for compatriot Martins to find an unguarded net past keeper Aurobindo Bandopadhyay.

Dempo were prising open the IAF defence, which was at sixes and sevens, almost at will as the back line seemed to get into each other's way.

Chidi weaved his magic once again as he went to the back line and his centre went across the face of the goal. Martins, who was inside the six yard box, could hardly believe his luck but failed to find the target which was at his mercy.

But the second strike from Dempo seemed inevitable when Chidi's cut back was slammed home with a rasping side-volley by Silva.

No sorties
Air Force hardly managed to launch any significant attacks and their first attempt on target came in the 24th minute when Prashanta Singh's shot from distance was easily collected by Dempo keeper V P Satish Kumar.

Dempo went three up just before the break when Martins went to the back line and centred for Chidi to find the bottom corner on the turn.

The Goan outfit had to wait till the final quarter of the game before adding to their tally. Martins played a through ball for Silva to run on to and as Bandopadhyay rushed forward to cut off the angle, the Brazilian rounded off the keeper and found the far corner.

Chidi made it five for the winners when he headed in a Martins chip into the top corner.