Joaquim Abranches' brace hand Dempo a comfortable win

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A win helped the North Goan club to stay in the contest for the semi-final spot...

A brace from Joaquim Abranches and a goal each from Kapil Hoble and Nickson Castanha helped Dempo SC register their first win of the Goa Sevens Premier League, defeating SCC Cavelossim 4-1, played at SAG Ground, Fatorda earlier toda.Dempo now has three points while Cavelossim also has the same number of points from two matches.Needing a win to remain in the contest for the semi-final spot, Dempo coach Samir Naik named an unchanged seven against the young and talented Cavelossim side, who also had no changes in the team that beat Vasco SC 5-1.However, it were the Golden Eagles who showed their urgency to score early in the game as in the second minute, Joaquim Abranches managed to break the offside trap but his shot was brilliantly saved by SCC Cavelossim keeper Ozen Silva.Ozen couldn’t do much in the next minute as the former Sesa FA graduate was left helpless to stop Dempo SC’s skipper Nickson’s strike, who drilled his shot into the left corner to make it 1-0.Dempo SC dominated the preceding and nearly doubled the lead only to see Beevan D’Mello’s grounder saved by alert Ozen.The Cavelossim side couldn’t carry on with the same rhythm as they played against Vasco SC in their opening fixture and soon found themselves down by two goals in the 14th minute.Joaquim Abranches finally got onto the scoresheet as he kept his cool in front of the goal to beat the stubborn SCC Cavelossim keeper.Stunned by two goals, SCC Cavelossim regrouped but failed to penetrate experienced Dempo SC defence.The South Goan side opted of a long range shot wherein Bersal Veigas’ lofted effort was tipped away by keeper Tyson Caido while Rayman’s pile driver missed the target by whiskers.At the other end, Dempo scored their third in the 19th minute when Nickson ran down the left flank before finding Abranches in the danger zone and the former FC Goa striker made no mistake to put the ball past Ozen Silva making it 3-0 for Panjim-based club.Cavelossim would have conceded their fourth in just before the break, but Ozen parried away Naveen Mendes' strike.Post lemon break, Cavelossim came back strongly with Rayman and Aaren D’Silva testing the Dempo SC keeper, before both being subbed off as Cavelossim coach introduced Gammy Costa and Moses D’Sa.Gammy had the chance to score off his first touch but the lad shot wide.After much pressing, Cavelossim pulled a goal back through Bersal in the 54th minute.Abranches had the chance to score his hat-trick but the striker just couldn’t get past Ozen Silva, who once again came with an amazing save.That was the last chance of the match for Abranches as he was replaced by young Kapil Hobel, a Dempo’s youth development product.Dempo’s Kapil scored the team’s fourth goal in the 63rd minute after he was fed by Velito Cruz from the centre.Earlier Hayden’s long range effort kissed the crossbar and went out of play.