The Hero Federation Cup has reached its closing stages with the semi-final matches set to be played on January 9. Goan sides Dempo SC and Salgaocar are set to lock horns whereas I-League champions Bengaluru FC play Sporting Clube de Goa in the second semi-final clash. A number of Hero ISL players have been on the scoresheet, with FC Goa’s young star Romeo Fernandes leading the charts for the Cup’s top scorer.Dempo beat Mumbai FC 2-0 on the January 5 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda to make their way into the semi-finals. Dempo took the lead from a Romeo Fernandes corner that took several awkward touches before finding its way to Clifford Miranda (FC Goa) who tapped home the first goal of the night. FC Goa player Holicharan Narzary linked up with FC Pune City midfielder Lenny Rodrigues, whose shot came off a defender into the path of Romeo Fernandes, whose calm finish doubled his side’s lead.Mohun Bagan ended their Hero Federation Cup campaign on a positive note with a win against Shillong Lajong on January 6 at Tilak Maidan in Goa. Kingshuk Debnath, who turned out for Atlético de Kolkata in the ISL, scored the only goal of the game. The defender finished from a free kick late into the game to earn victory for his side.East Bengal were knocked out of the tournament even though they led 3-1 at the halfway mark. Sporting Clube de Goa came back from two goals down to win 4-3 and cementing their place in the semi-final on 6th of January at a match played out at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. Dudu Omagbemi (FC Pune City) gave East Bengal the lead for the first time in the 30th minute as he tapped the ball home from a Shylo Malswamtluanga (Delhi Dynamos FC) corner. Dudu repaid the favour a few minutes later as he found Shylo unmarked in the box, with the midfielder extending East Bengal’s lead to 3-1.Dempo and Royal Wahingdoh played out an inconsequential 1-1 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on January 7. The highlight of the game was ISL star Romeo Fernandes’ solo effort that earned a draw for the Goan side. Romeo’s goal against Wahingdoh takes him to joint top-scorer position alongside India captain Sunil Chettri and Douhou Pierre of Salgaocar. His strike also meant that he is the only player to have scored in every game of the Hero Federation Cup thus far.
