35th Federation Cup: Dempo SC trash United Sikkim 3-0

Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey marked his debut with a double strike on either side of half-time as Dempo SC trounced lacklustre United Sikkim FC in their 35th Federation Cup Group D encounter at the MDSC Stadium in Manjeri on Friday evening.

Dempo now need a draw against Mohammedan Sporting Club on Monday, January 20 to advance to the semifinals owing to better goal difference over the Kolkata side.

Arthur Papas ringed in five changes from their previous game bringing in Alwyn George – who scored in the first game after coming off the bench – Holicharan Narzary, Prabir Das, and their new recruits Tolgay Ozbey and Afghanistan captain Haroon Amiri.

Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva (Beto) opened the scoring for the five-time League champions in the 23rd minute. Indian international Clifford Miranda‘s dead-ball floater from the right was cleared by United Sikkim FC defenders but only as far as Alwyn George who picked out Beto inside the area. The former Churchill Brothers man from Brazil made no mistake and fired home from close.

Just at the stroke of half-time, Dempo doubled their lead when Tolgay slotted home left-back Narayan Das’s cross. The Australian striker timed his run to perfection, using the outside of his foot to place his shot into the bottom right corner.

Post the breather; it was all one way traffic as Arthur Papas’s boys made constant forays into rival territory. Of one such raid, Tolgay found the back of the net for the second time in the match. Collecting possession on the edge of the area, the former Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal forward turned his marker both ways before stabbing home in the 63rd minute.

United Sikkim FC tried to reduce the margin in the dying minutes of the match but in vain. Jiten Rai skewed his shot over, while Sukhwinder Singh fired wide.

After this round of matches, Dempo have six points while United Sikkim FC are yet to open their account.

(Report & Photo courtesy AIFF Media)