GPL 2019-20: Rampant Dempo SC hit Velsao for six

Velsao suffered their third straight defeat in the league.

Dempo Sports Club registered a commanding 6-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Tuesday.

Joaquim Abranches scored a brace, while Kirtikesh Gadekar, Alber Gonsalves, Beevan D'Mello and Nickson Castanha scored one each for the Golden Eagles. In the absence of head coach Sameer Naik, assistant coach-cum-manager Camilo Gonsalves was given charge of the team and he made two changes to his side which went down to Sporting Clube de Goa. Edwin Viegas and Yogesh Kadam replaced the injured Mathew Gonsalves and Shubham Malwankar in the starting XI.

Whereas Velsoa coach Ajay Acharya also made the same number of changes to his side following a 3-0 defeat at the hands Churchill Brothers. Keeper Roanal Gaunkar and forward Jesloy Moniz found their names in the playing XI for the South Goan club.

Velsao were unlucky not to score in the very first minute. Romario Da Costa set up Jesloy Moniz with a through-pass, but the forward's stiff grounder missed the target by hairline distance due to logged water near the post.

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At the other end, Dempo were lucky in the 7th minute. Velsao defender Leny Pereira could not clear the ball due to logged water and it rolled to Dempo midfielde

r Kirtikesh Gadekar at the top of the box. His shot gave no chance to Velsao keeper Roanal Gaunkar, making 1-0 for the Golden Eagles. Velsao suffered another blow as their custodian suffered a neck injury and was replaced by Aliston Fernandes.

Velsao also had a chance to level terms in the 24th minute. Bersal Viegas curled the ball nicely to the onrushing Shubham Rao Desai in the box, but the winger's header missed the target narrowly with rival keeper Agnelo Gomes completely out of position.

Two minutes later, Dempo winger Alber Gonsalves saw his strike from outside the box rebound off the goalpost. However, the loose ball rolled to the unmarked Kirtikesh in the box, but he could not control his shot as the ball went over the bar.

Dempo had another opportunity to double their lead in the 41st minute. Dempo skipper Joaquim Abranches made a short pass to Velito Cruz, whose sparkling strike hit Velsao defender Bersal and would have crashed in the goal. But, substitute keeper Aliston brilliantly pushed it for a corner.

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However, the Golden Eagles extended their lead from the resulting corner. Nickson Castanha's corner was headed towards the goal by Shallum Pires which was punched by Velsao keeper Aliston. However, he could not clear the danger completely. Taking advantage of the same, Joaquim slotted the ball into the empty net making it 2-0.

It was just two minutes in the second half when Dempo further inflated their lead. A fine cross from Nickson was neatly headed in by Joaquim from close to make it 3-0.

In the next few minutes, few more opportunities came Dempo's way, but aimless shooting from Joaquim and Alber restricted the scoreline. However, in the 65th minute, the Golden Eagles managed to add another goal to their tally. Substitute Beevan D'Mello nutmeged Velsao defender Sadik Shaikh in the box and found Alber with a square pass. He blasted it in from point-blank range to make it 4-0.

Substitute Beevan also registered his name on the scoresheet in the 84th minute. Another substitute Pedro Gonsalves made a lobbed pass to the forward in the box and he slotted the ball home from inside the box to make it 5-0. Whereas, Nickson scored the sixth goal for the Golden Eagles with an individual effort from the halfway line.