Dempo go top with a win over Taleigao in GPL

Adil shines in the Golden Eagles' win...

Dempo Sports Club trounced Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao as they registered a comfortable 3-1 win in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

Dempo are in superb form in the league as after a narrow 1-0 defeat against Calangute Association, they have made a fantastic comeback winning three matches in a row. First, they first trashed Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim 7-0 and later defeated Vasco SC with a 7-3 margin. In the last match, they registered a comeback 3-1 win over Guardian Angels SC.

Recently promoted Taleigao are struggling to sustain themselves in the league with professional clubs. They are yet to register a win in the league and sit bottom of the league with just 3 points from 15 matches. However, they managed to hold Dempo to a 1-1 draw in the previous meeting between both teams. They have also surprised FC Bardez and Corps of Signals with the same results.

The Dempo head coach Mauricio Afonso made two changes to his side as Joaquim Abranches and Meldon D’Silva found their names in the playing XI. While, Taleigao coach also made two changes in the starting XI, bringing in Vikram Balekar and U20 Salu Santos in place of Raju Abbigeri and Manuel Fernandes.

The Golden Eagles started the match on an attacking note and came close to scoring thrice in the first 10 minutes. Anthony D’Souza got hold of a loose ball on the halfway line, covered some ground and drilled a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but his effort rebounded off the goal-post with Taleigao keeper Rohan Sheikh beaten. Next, Felix Chidi saw his header miss the target by a whisker. While, Kapil Hoble also failed to keep his header on target from close range off Felix’s cross.

Once again Felix was in action when he made an excellent run from the halfway line to get hold of Adil Khan’s lofted pass, but failed to direct his shot after entering the box and the ball went into the waiting gloves of keeper Rohan. Another chance went in vain for Dempo when Adil was brilliantly picked out by Felix in the box, but Adil’s shot sailed over the crossbar.

At the other end, Dempo defender Meldon handled the ball to give away a free-kick just outside the box, but Jerose Oliveira overpowered his shot and the ball went sky-high. A few minutes later, Taleigao’s Gopi Gad tried to find striker Jerose in the box, but defender Meldon made no mistake to clear the same. With so many chances wasted by Dempo and not even a single attempt on goal by Taleigao, both went into the break goalless.

On crossing over, Dempo coach Mauricio Afonso brought in Milagres Gonsalves in place of Kapil to be sharper in the attack. Finally, the Golden Eagles surged ahead when Mario Mascarenhas cut past three defenders and sent a pass to Felix on the edge of the box, who controlled it in style and shot a grounder which finished in the back of the nylons.

Keyed up by a goal, Dempo’s Adil came up with two back-to-back attempts but Taleigao defenders stood tall to stay away from any further damage. First, Ramesh Palkar nicely cleared the ball from the feet of Adil, who was about to blast it in the goal. Later, Gopi intercepted his goal-bound header at the cost of a corner.

Even after having two shots saved Adil never let his morale slip and came up with two goals. The midfielder brilliantly headed in from point blank range off Anthony’s curling cross. Ten minutes later, he scored his second and Dempo’s third goal when he went on a solo run from inside his own half dribbling past few defenders and drilled a sparkling shot past the Taleigao keeper Rohan. However, Taleigao managed to get back with a consolation after a quick attack when Gopi’s blistering shot from 30 yards kept Dempo keeper Priyant Singh rooted.

In the dying minutes, Taleigao’s Sherwin Lobo used unparliamewntary words towards referee Sainath Haldankar for overlooking a minor foul by Adil. The referee took no time to show him a direct red card. This was Sherwin’s second direct red card of the season.

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With this win, Dempo jumped to the top of the league table with 31 points from 14 matches, while bottom-placed Taleigao has 3 points from 15 outings.

 In the day’s another match played at Ambelim Ground, Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim managed to hold Guardian Angel Sports Club to a 1-1 draw. Estevan Mendes took Guardian to an early lead with a brilliant tapped in off Yakubu Mohammed. However, Cavelossim’s Gammy Costa canceled it out in the second half through a set-piece.