NEW DELHI: I-League champions Churchill Brothers made their third consecutive Durand Cup final with an impressive 2-1 win over Dempo Sports Club in an evenly contested all-Goan semi-final at the Ambedkar Stadium here Saturday.
Charan Rai (20th) and star Nigerian forward Odafe Onyeka Okolie (50th) were on target for the newly crowned IFA Shield winners while Brazilian playmaker Beto reduced the margin with seven minutes from time with his stinging free-kick.
In the title-clash, Churchill will meet the winner of Sunday's semi-final between 16-time champions Mohun Bagan and holders Mahindra United.
Dempo were unlucky to lose out despite dominating the first half and their forwards Sunil Chettri and Ranty Martins lacked the penetration power to breach the Churchill defence.
Anthony Pereira was impressive for Dempo on the right flank with his speedy run and combined well with Beto to make repeated attempts but could not co-ordinate with Chettri and Martins.
Churchill defenders were equally up to the task and India international Gourmangi Singh was excellent as a stopper back and did well to keep both Chettri and Martins at bay.
Despite making a shaky start, Churchill were lucky to get the lead after Rai slotted in from a scramble to stun the three-time national league winners Dempo.
Dempo stepped up the accelerator and Nicolau Borges came close but his well-directed long ranger missed the bar by a whisker in the 36th minute. In the next minute, Borges again headed wide a cross from Pereira, who made an excellent run down the wing with his impressive dribbling skills.
Martins again came closer to get the equaliser but his right-footer hit the bar as Churchill went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes after the breather, Churchill doubled the lead after Khan Tang Paite fed Odafe with a pin-point pass and the Nigerian's right footer crashed into the net.
Dempo were desperate to pull one and Beto did a Roberto Carlos act to reduce the score-line.