Dempo halt Salgaocar's unbeaten run in the Goa Pro League

Adil Khan came off the bench to score for the first, while Felix Odili Chidi scored the second for the Golden Eagles..

Dempo Sports Club registered a hard fought 2-1 win over Salgaocar FC in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Football Stadium earlier today. Salagaocar coach Norbert Gonsalves made two changes to his side which was held to a goalless draw by Calangute Association in the last match as striker Umesh Harijan and U-20 Denil Rebello were introduced in the starting XI. While Dempo started without Mohammed Ali as the defender was serving a suspension because of two bookings in the last matches. Meldon D’Silva and Joaquim Abranches were back in the starting XI for the Panjim based club. Salgaocar dominated the possession in the first half and marched many times into the opponent’s area. The first shot of the match came from Salgaocar’s Liston Colaco, but Dempo’s custodian Priyant Kumar Singh collected it effortlessly. In the 10th minute Meldon was booked for a harsh tackle on Liston. Five minutes later Dempo custodian Priyant was lucky not to concede a goal when Salgaocar’s Brian Mascarenhas sent a curling cross inside the box but Ivory Coast’s-Keita Boubacar and Leny Pereira failed to connect it from point blank range. Minute later Dempo should have taken an early lead but Felix Odili Chidi’s header missed the target by hairline distance off Beevan D’Mello’s cross from the right corner. Again Dempo came close to score when U-20 Hayden Fernandes sent a cross to another U-20 Kapil Hoble, whose tap in was pushed wide for a corner by Slagaocar keeper Bruno Colaco. At the other end a free-kick by Brian travelled to unmarked Leny Pereira who drove a solid grounder at the goal which was brilliantly cleared on the goal line by Dempo’s Naveen Mendes. In the 35th minutes Dempo coach Mauricio Afonso brought in Adil Khan replacing Germanpreet Singh. Five minutes before half time Dempo keeper Priyant was in action when he made an excellent save to deny Liston from scoring. On the counter-attack Felix failed to tap the ball above advancing Salgaocar keeper Bruno. Finally in the 45th minute substitute Adil’s superb bicycle kick from the box deflected off defender Lenny, hit the goal post and went in, making it 1-0 for the Panjim side. The Golden Eagles took just five minutes after crossing over to double their lead when Felix got hold of the ball on the halfway line, covered some ground while dribbling past three Salgaocar defenders and made no mistake to finish past Salgaocar keeper Bruno. The Green Brigade regrouped and pulled a goal back in the 57th minute from the penalty spot. When Meldon D’Silva brought down Jovel Martins inside the box. Substitute Naro Hari Shrestha scored from the spot making it 1-2 for the Greens. In the 60th minute Dempo got a chance to increase their lead but Kapil’s low shot was blocked by keeper Bruno at the cost of a corner. Another chance went a begging for Dempo when Felix’s shot from close hit defender Nicolau Colaco’s leg. In the 79th minute Salgaocar wasted a glorious chance for an equalizer. Aslon Oliveira was brought down by Dempo skipper Shallum Pires giving away the second penalty of the match to Salagaocar, but this time the Dempo shot-stopper came up with a diving save to deny Naro from equalizing for the Greens. Dempo Coach Mauricio Afonso was happy with team’s performance and said “My boys played really well. They deserve appreciation from me. Goalkeeper Priyant was brilliant between the sticks. I can say this was one of the best matches of GPL.” Photo © : RJ 28