Dempo SC consolidated their title chances when they scored an easy 3-0 win over bottom-placed HAL in the 21st round of the I-League football tournament here on Saturday.
Dempo, who led 1-0 at half time, scored through a double from Ranty Martins(12th, 60th) and substitute Yusuke Kato in the 89th minute at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
With this win, Dempo, who is leading the table, took their tally to 46 points from 21 matches while HAL remained at the bottom with seven points from as many games and are certain to get relegated.
Dempo made their intentions clear as they worked with a lively pace and dominated the match. They made into the rival half with a steady flow of passes and surged ahead in the 12th minute from a penalty after missing couple of chances.
Peter Carvalho was brought down by rival defender Kenneh inside the box and referee Lalit Meetei awarded the penalty to Dempo which was ably converted by Martins.
Dempo kept up the pressure on the rival goal and created handful of scoring chances but Martins missed at least two glorious opportunities to increase the lead.
HAL goalkeeper Amar Deb should be credited for bringing of half a dozen saves as he denied Martins thrice.
Martins later increased the lead in the 60th minute when he chipped the ball over the HAL custodian to find the far corner of the net.
Substitute Kato then made it safe for Dempo when he guided the ball into the net from close range after receiving a pass from Koko.