Siliguri/Jamshedpur: I-League champions Dempo SC stormed into the semifinals of the Federation Cup by beating Mumbai FC 4-0, which effectively left Shillong Lajong FC out in the cold irrespective of their result against Pailan Arrows. The Shillong club, however, lost their match 1-2 to finish a disappointing third in Group A behind Dempo and Pailan.
In the match played in Jamshedpur, Holicharan Narzary scored off a rebound in the 17th minute, but Arrows’ joy was cut short when Lajong striker Ebi Sukore equalised four minutes later.
The Kolkata outfit, however, earned the winner in the 69th minute through Prabir Das.
Complaining about the condition of the pitch again, SLFC assistant coach Thangboi Singto said, “The boys gave a very good performance.
“The pitch was bad and it was very difficult for both the teams to play football.” Singto was in charge of the team as head coach Desmond Bulpin was ill.
In Group C matches in Siliguri, Sporting Clube de Goa kept their semifinal hopes alive with a hard-fought 3-2 win over a Kalighat MS.
Later in the evening, East Bengal survived an ONGC scare as last year’s runners-up came back from a goal down to win 2-1. (Agencies)