JCT, Dempo in stalemate

NEW DELHI, December 16: The much-awaited needle clash between Dempo Sports Club and JCT turned out to be a damp squib as the I-League toppers and the second-placed side looked completely out of sorts and settled for a goalless draw here on Sunday.
The result however drew in lot of scepticism on both the team’s approach — if JCT’s inconsistency highlighted their plight in the event, the Goans were no shade better.Yet, the defending champions were still quite content to return home with a point.
Except for Dempo’s Joaquim Abranches’ neatly executed volley directed at the goal midway into the second session and once when Beto’s power-packed punch tested Karanjit Singh, the match will readily slip into the record book as one of the dullest so far.
The teams may have done their homework but something must have gone horribly wrong as both teams were locked in an unimaginative midfield tussle. It resembled a rudderless ship with no fixed destination. And virtually short of creativity, the through-passes which were essayed for the strikers either lacked the punitive punch or lost the sting before it could pierce the rival defence.
So, if you wondered why goalpoachers like Eduardo Da Silva of JCT or Dempo’s Ranty Martins struggled to stab the ball home, you have the answer.
The result left Dempo at the top of the table with 14 points while JCT are two points behind the Goans.