Milgares penalty gives 1-0 win to Afonso's lads
Photo Credits: Dempo
Milgares Gonsalves converted a spot kick to put his side in front in the 42nd minute. It was a perfect gift to head coach Mauricio Afonso, who is celebrating his birthday on Monday, November 16
MARGAO
Five-time champions Dempo Sports Club left it late but managed to score a narrow but deserving 1-0 win over PIFA Sports Club, Mumbai in their Western Conference Second Division I-League match at Panchayat ground, Raia on Sunday.
Milgares Gonsalves converted a spot kick to put his side in front in the 42nd minute. It was a perfect gift to head coach Mauricio Afonso, who is celebrating his birthday on Monday, November 16.
The home team stamped their authority in the game and kept PIFA lads on their toes. Velito D'Cruz, Aiken Dias and Steven Fernandes held the Dempo midfield together and orchestrated several attacks. The home team could have forged ahead in the very first minute but striker Milagres Gonsalves' header, off Nickson Castana's cross from the left, hit the post.
In the 25th minute, Dempo's Steven Fernandes muffed a sitter after Brazilian striker Josimiar Da Silva Martins had thumped a header on the path of the former. Dempo were again unlucky as in the 27th minute midfielder Velito D'Cruz's free kick hit the left post and went out. PIFA goalkepeer Karun Kumar then pulled off a stunning save in the 30th minute to deny Josimiar, who headed at the goal off a cross from captain Shallum Pires.
At the other hand, PIFA did not have many clear chances at the rival goal and Dempo goalkeeper Tyson Caido had a field day as he was hardly tested by the rival attackers. The lone goal of the match came in the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Karun Kumar brought down Dempo midfielder Steven Fernandes inside the penalty box. Milagres Gonsalves converted with ease.
The home team came out all guns blazing after the half time and dominated the better part of the session with Velito D'Cruz again at the heart of their attacking moves. In the 55th minute, Dempo nearly doubled the lead but Milagres Gonsalves ballooned over from hand-shaking distance after Nickson Castana put him through.
PIFA coach Abdul Siddiqui made three substitutions to force something out of the game but it did not yield any results. Milagres Gonsalves then rolled in brilliantly to move inside the rival penalty box but Josimar shot wide from close range.
Dempo chief coach Afonso was elated with the three points but touch disappointed with the margin of victory. "The boys played well today and we started with the right attitude," Afonso said after the match.Afonso's counterpart Abdul Siddique attributed the defeat to the blunder made by his goalkepeer. "Our players are young and inexperienced. We need to fight and pick all three points on offer against other teams in the group to stay in the top three," Siddique said.
