Dempo Sports Club, Goa [Images], scored on a counter attack to get past East Bengal 1-0 and move into the semi-finals of the 28th Peerless Federation Cup football tournament on Saturday.

Brazilian Ranti Martins got the only goal at the fag end of the 90-minute exchange that saw East Bengal paying a heavy price for missing a bagful of chances at the floodlit Salt Lake stadium.

The goal came in the 87th minute, completely against the run of play, dismaying the large contingent of East Bengal fans, and ensuring Dempo a last four outing on Wednesday against the winners of Sunday's quarter-final clash between Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan.

With their backs to the wall as East Bengal attacked relentlessly, Dempo moved up fast on the break and Beto unleashed a power-packed shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Nasim Akhtar.

But the dangerous Martins, who followed the ball well, slammed it home on the rebound to shut the door on the four-time Cup winners.

Earlier, East Bengal dominated the match, particularly in the second half to rattle the Dempo defence time and again.

The exchanges were even in the first half, and both sides got goal-scoring chances.

In the 14th minute, the East Bengal defence was caught napping as Climax Lawrence set up Anthony Pereira, who failed to trap the ball properly. None of the East Bengal central defenders were in position as Pereira went relatively unchallenged.

East Bengal made two attempts in the next 10 minutes, but Debabrata Roy was off target on both occasions.

First, his sortie went out, and then he failed to nod in a measured centre from Arata.

Soon after the half-hour mark, Clifford Miranda curled a free-kick and Beto's header was saved by Nasim Akhtar, while Martin's left footer flew narrowly over.

East Bengal were all over their opponents in the second session, but substitute Freddy Mascarenhas, Arata and Syed Rahim Nabi muffed up the sitters.

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