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Omagbemi takes Salgaocar into semifinals

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 6. Dudu Omagbemi scored the first hat-trick of this year's Durand football tournament as he carried Salgaocar past Assam Regiment Centre (ARC) 3-0 and into the semifinals at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Monday.

Madras Engineering Group (MEG), Bangalore, earlier brought off a surprise 1-0 victory over East Bengal but the result did not matter as the Kolkata side moved into the last-four stage from group `B', thanks to its superior goal difference.

All the three teams in the pool having finished with a win, the goal difference came into the calculations and East Bengal's 4-0 win over Air India in its opener clinched the issue. MEG had lost by a solitary goal to Air India in its first match.

In the first semifinals on Tuesday, Mohammedan Sporting will take on Army XI while Salgaocar meets East Bengal in the second on Wednesday. The final is scheduled for Friday.

With the teams being allowed to field only two foreigners, Salgaocar will be in a dilemma while picking its side for the semifinals.

For, keeping Omagbemi out after his display on Monday will be a difficult proposition though Sunday Seah is rated the No. 1 striker in the Goan side.

The third foreigner in the side, Bello Rasaq, is a key figure in the defence.

Omagbemi started the scoring in the 12th minute, driving home after Sebastiao Endro had found the near post and the ball rebounded into play.

Eight minutes into the second half, a passing bout between Omagbemi and Dharamjit Singh on the left flank saw the defence in a trance and the former going up unchallenged to go around goalkeeper Jembo Singh and place home.

Five minutes later it was 3-0 when Jembo allowed the ball to pop out of his hands following a Denis Cabral attempt giving Omagbemi another easy opening.

Salgaocar ended with two wins, while ARC had a point from the draw with Punjab State Electricity Board.

East Bengal did not field its best against MEG, resting star striker Mike Okoro. It could afford to take things easy since MEG required a 4-0 victory to force a tie. Yet, East Bengal's prestige took a beating against a lowly-ranked side.

Ajith Kumar netted the winner in the 60th minute, tapping home a ball that goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee had dropped following a free kick.

East Bengal spurned a number of chances before trooping out, Trijit Das being the prime culprit.

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