Dempo’s win over Cavelossim stretches GPL title race

Substitute Joaquim Abranches’ second half strike helped the Golden Eagles to earn all three points from the match.

Dempo Sports Club down Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim by 1-0 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today.

With this win, Dempo retained their second position with 41 points from 18 matches, while Cavelossim are at the bottom of the table with just 16 points from 20 outings.

Dempo had two changes to their side which were held by Guardian Angel SC in the last match as their gaffer Samir Naik gave the first start to U-20 defender Edwin Viegas in the GPL, while Jaison Vaz also made the start for the Golden Eagles, while Cavelossim who had drawn with FC Goa in the previous round had three changes as their coach Severino Fernandes named striker Semson Fernandes, midfielder Ralf Fernandes and defender Aaron Antao in the starting XI.

After a dominant play in the first few minutes, Dempo had the opportunity to surge ahead in the 13th minutes when Kapil Hoble found Latesh Mandrekar with a superb cross from the right but the midfielder failed to control his header from the goalmouth as Cavelossim defender Richard Fernandes cleared it on time. 

Cavelossim also came close to scoring in the 35th minutes when Semson found Alvito Miranda with a curling cross from the deep left flank but the forward’s header from close just went over the crossbar.

In the added time of the first session, Cavelossim striker Alvito was unlucky not to take his side into the lead when his shot from the 35-yards rebound off the crossbar with every opponent beaten.

At the half-time, Dempo coach Samir replaced Latesh Mandrekar with Joaquim Abranches to hone them in the attacking department.

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However, it was Cavelossim who came first close to scoring in the second session when Moises D’Sa set up Ralf in the box but Dempo keeper Agnelo Gomes nicely blocked him from close. 

Dempo had the golden chance to break the deadlock in the 55th minutes when Beevan made a superb through pass to substitute Abranches who covered some ground but shot wide from inside with just Cavelossim keeper Razak Devsor to beat.

At the other end, Cavelossim striker wasted another chance when he shot wide from outside the box with Dempo keeper Agnelo completely out of position.

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After wasting an easy chance, Abranches finally managed to deliver in the 75th minutes when he made no mistake to shot past Cavelossim keeper Razak with a fierce shot from 6-yards after receiving a perfect through pass from Beevan to put the Golden Eagles into the lead.

Ten minutes later, Dempo had a chance to extend their lead when Nickson Castanha curled the ball to Beevan in the box but the forward saw his header miss the target by hairline distance.