I-League 2024-25: Dempo SC edge past Sreenidi Deccan

Dempo SC are in great form in this I-League season.

Argentine midfielder Cristian Damian Perez Roa converted from the spot in the eighth minute to propel Dempo Sports Club to a 1-0 win over hosts Sreenidi Deccan FC in Round Five of the I-League 2024-25 at the Deccan Arena on Friday, December 13, 2024.

The all-important goal was the result of a rather needless infringement in the box by Sreenidi custodian Ubaid CK, and Cristian Perez Roa grabbed the opportunity to bulge the net from the penalty kick.  

Dempo, who have played all their five matches away from home thus far, now have 10 points and are temporarily placed at the top of the table. The equations, however, could change in the next few days when other table toppers like Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir FC and Churchill Brothers FC Goa play their Round Five matches.

Sreenidi, on the other hand, have six points after playing all five matches at home. The defeat against Dempo was their third and second consecutive at the Deccan Arena.

If Dempo, coached by former India defender Samir Naik, can claim credit for putting up a resolute defence against the relentless onslaught by the rival attackers, then the home side cannot be accused of not trying enough to find the equalizer.

Sreenidi did their best to avoid defeat. Apart from earning a series of corners, they came close to finding the elusive goal several times. But when push came to shove, the hosts faltered to pay the price.

Dempo, who hardly created a positive change as the match progressed, lived dangerously much to the frustrations of the goodly home crowd present in the stands. On two occasions, when Dempo goalkeeper Ashish Sibi tumbled in the six-yard box with the ball nowhere in his possession, the defenders came up with miraculous goalline saves to fetch three points for their team.

Sreenidi, well served by two Brazilians, one Dutch and an Afghan recruit, almost seized the Dempo goal arena during the later stages. They made five substitutions that included Colombian David Castaneda, whose booming volley deep into the add-on time all but went in before the crosspiece came his way.  It wasn’t Sreenidi’s day, definitely. 

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