Goa's Dempo Sports Club struck in the opening half to edge past HASC, Bangalore, 1-0 and move into the quarter Final of the 28th Federation Cup football in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Antony Pereira netted the only goal in the 26th minute of the Salt Lake Stadium match that saw the Goans dominate proceedings in the one and half hour of regulation play.
Sameer Naik initiated the productive move and essayed a fine ball to Brazilian Ranty Martin, and the latter's rasping shot deflected off an HASC defender towards the goal. HASC custodian Gumphe Rime saved the situation, but only partially. Pereira showed fine opportunism as he swooped on the ball and pushed it in from close.
Dempo went on the attack from the outset and created several golden opportunities, but their ineptitude at the striking zone and the woodwork restricted them to the slender margin.
Early in the first half, defender Valeriand Rebglo took a snap try off a Naik flag kick but the ball came off the post.
The Bangalore outfit tried to match up to their rivals and a Raghui Singh corner saw Kuttimani go for a header, but the ball ballooned over.
The second session was lacklustre as none of the teams could carry out penetrative moves into the opponent defensive zone. Dempo seemed content with a one-goal cushion, while the HASC moves seemed to fizzle out in the rival half.