<p>Dempo took the lead through Clifford Miranda in the 75th minute. Bt the Pune side struck twice soon after with Arata Izumi in the 77th and Edmar Figueira, 10-minute later, finding the target in a closely-contested Group D match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.<br /><br />The Goan side, considered one of the favourites to win the country’s premier league-cum-knock-out tournament, will now play Shillong Lajong on Thursday and Air India on Sunday.<br /><br />Both sides started on an even keel and it was Pune FC who had the first real chance but a shot by Jeje Lalpeklua, the India under-23 striker, was deflected by a Dempo defender for a corner in the 12th minute.<br /><br />Pune nearly conceded the lead in the 32nd minute but for Godwin Franco’s goal-line save of a header by Peter Carvalho, who came in for Roberto Mendis.After the barren first half, Dempo were the more attacking side while Pune FC relied mainly on counter attacks.<br /><br />The last 15 minutes saw three goals with Dempo drawing the first blood in the 75th minute through Clifford Miranda who chested down a Valeriano Rebello cross from the right and tapped the ball home past a diving Subrata Paul.<br /><br />It took just two minutes more for Pune FC to restore parity, with their Japanese import Arata firing in a powerful shot from 25 yards into the Dempo goal.<br /><br />Dempo conceded the winner three minutes from time in the most uncharacteristic fashion following a mix up in their defence.<br /><br />A cross from the right caused havoc in the Dempo box as central defender Anwar Ali tried to clear it with a header, but goalkepeer Tyson Caiado came from behind to collect the ball.<br /><br />The goalkeeper spilled the ball which ricocheted off Anwar’s back and the loose ball is poked home by an onrushing Edmar. In another Group D match, Lajong FC and Air India played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.<br /><br />I League newcomers, Lajong opened the scoring through Tuboi Singh in the fifth minute. But Air India, drew level in the 41st minute, through a freekick from captain Khelemba Singh.<br /><br />One minute into the second half Lajong went ahead again this time through a penalty, which was dispatched into the back of the net by Daniel Bedemi. Air India equalised for the second time through Kailash Patil in the 53rd minute to give the airmen a share of the spoils.<br /><br /> At Silchar, In a Group A match, East Bengal were held to a goalless draw by Viva Kerala. Salgaocar SC scored a narrow 1-0 win over JCT in another Group A match in Silcahr. Mandjou Keita headed in the winner in the 14th minute after a free kick from Manjit Singh.<br /></p>
<p>Dempo took the lead through Clifford Miranda in the 75th minute. Bt the Pune side struck twice soon after with Arata Izumi in the 77th and Edmar Figueira, 10-minute later, finding the target in a closely-contested Group D match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.<br /><br />The Goan side, considered one of the favourites to win the country’s premier league-cum-knock-out tournament, will now play Shillong Lajong on Thursday and Air India on Sunday.<br /><br />Both sides started on an even keel and it was Pune FC who had the first real chance but a shot by Jeje Lalpeklua, the India under-23 striker, was deflected by a Dempo defender for a corner in the 12th minute.<br /><br />Pune nearly conceded the lead in the 32nd minute but for Godwin Franco’s goal-line save of a header by Peter Carvalho, who came in for Roberto Mendis.After the barren first half, Dempo were the more attacking side while Pune FC relied mainly on counter attacks.<br /><br />The last 15 minutes saw three goals with Dempo drawing the first blood in the 75th minute through Clifford Miranda who chested down a Valeriano Rebello cross from the right and tapped the ball home past a diving Subrata Paul.<br /><br />It took just two minutes more for Pune FC to restore parity, with their Japanese import Arata firing in a powerful shot from 25 yards into the Dempo goal.<br /><br />Dempo conceded the winner three minutes from time in the most uncharacteristic fashion following a mix up in their defence.<br /><br />A cross from the right caused havoc in the Dempo box as central defender Anwar Ali tried to clear it with a header, but goalkepeer Tyson Caiado came from behind to collect the ball.<br /><br />The goalkeeper spilled the ball which ricocheted off Anwar’s back and the loose ball is poked home by an onrushing Edmar. In another Group D match, Lajong FC and Air India played out a thrilling 2-2 draw.<br /><br />I League newcomers, Lajong opened the scoring through Tuboi Singh in the fifth minute. But Air India, drew level in the 41st minute, through a freekick from captain Khelemba Singh.<br /><br />One minute into the second half Lajong went ahead again this time through a penalty, which was dispatched into the back of the net by Daniel Bedemi. Air India equalised for the second time through Kailash Patil in the 53rd minute to give the airmen a share of the spoils.<br /><br /> At Silchar, In a Group A match, East Bengal were held to a goalless draw by Viva Kerala. Salgaocar SC scored a narrow 1-0 win over JCT in another Group A match in Silcahr. Mandjou Keita headed in the winner in the 14th minute after a free kick from Manjit Singh.<br /></p>