MUMBAI, Dec 29: Francis `pocket' silveira was the toast of a Dempo victory yet again.The striker lived up to his sobriquet against Mahindras in the Philips National Football League (NFL), scoring the 24th minute match-winner and deservedly walking away with the man-of-the-match award at the Cooperage today.
Silveira's lustre outshone Dempo's Brazilian factor in the Goan side's NFL opener and drew lavish praise from beaten coach Dereyk de Sousa who appreciated the lanky striker's predatory skills.
A Brazilian touch, however, did help and Silveira needed no prompting to slip a header by Marcelo Antonio past Mahindras' goalkeeper Gumpe Rime after Gautam Ghosh crossed from the left.
Mahindras woke up late after being comprehensively outplayed in the first half and were eventually lucky to escape a hiding from the dominating Goans.While eyes were riveted on Dempo's Brazilian acquisitions from Rio de Janeiro -- medios Antonio, Joao Soares and Anderson Rebeiro -- it was heartening to see an indigenous
striker move with ease and skill.
Silveira nearly added a second with half-time beckoning, crashing the post from another header by Antonio and characteristically lurked around the area during much of the game.
Mahindras were restricted to precious few chances and the closest the Mumbai side came to scoring was from a free-kick by substitute Santosh Kashyap that hit the post in the 73rd minute.
Dempo are eager to wipe off the disappointment of a lowly fourth place in the Goan league. They missed the Rovers Cup last month and have been training in right earnest under Brazilian Francis Gonsalves and assistant coach Louis Andre. Manager Custodio Almeida sees an upswing in the team's fitness under the Brazilian influence.
But Brazilian skills on the field today were at a premium and Dempo's stars hardly appeared keen on displaying too much Latin magic.
If anything, attacking mid-fielder Marcelo Antonio's play-acting obscured his dribbling skills, helped by soft refereeing by GN Pyne who did little to
quell ever-increasing dissent as the match progressed.
Antonio was stretchered off in the second half with an ankle injury and tiring medio, Anderson Rebeiro, was replaced towards the end. But before they left the scene, the South Americans suggested they would make an impact on the Goan side before the season is through.
Mahindras were unable to field new Nepalese recruit, striker Hari Khadka, because of incomplete transfer formalities and missed Khalid Jamil, down with malaria, in the attack.
The jeepmen raised their game only after first-half substitutions saw Kashyap come in for Abhay Kumar and Sanjay Dayal replacing Sushanta Mazumdar in defence.
Silveira struck with Dempo's first dangerous raid in the match and the Goans could have made it 2-0 just minutes later.
Gumpe Rime, Mahindras' star in the inaugural NFL, stuck out a palm to block a blinder by Gautam Ghosh from point blank range to deny Dempo a certain goal and keep the Mumbai side's chances alive.
After unrelenting Dempo pressure that
saw Silveira go close on two more occasions, Mahindras enjoyed some say in the proceedings in the second half.Herbert Philip blasted over after a quick move with Nepalese Bal Gopal Mahajan in the 53rd minute and probably left coach De Sousa pining for a striker of Silveira's touch.
``It's goals that win matches,'' de Sousa said after the match, somewhat helplessly as Mahindras look back on one point from two matches and ahead to a stiff challenge against JCT in New Delhi on January 4.
De Sousa's counterpart Francis Gonsalves, speaking through interpreter -- manager Custodio Almeida -- reflected on a satisfying start, appeared tolerant on the much-criticised Cooperage ground.
Speaking in Portugeuese, Gonsalves said: ``I've seen far worse grounds. This one is not bad, but you need to train adequately on it.''
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
