PANAJI
Uzziel Budu applied the finishing touch in the stoppage time to give Dempo SC a 1-0 win over FC Bengaluru United in the opening match of the Indian Football League 2026-27 at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda.
It was a victory Dempo had pursued for the full ninety minutes and one that Bengaluru United's goalkeeper, Manjunath Hirekurbar and the woodwork did their best to deny. On the eve of the match, Head Coach Samir Naik had said a win would show where his side stands. By the final whistle, the Golden Eagles had their answer.
Dempo controlled the opening phase, with Laximanrao Rane twice testing the far corner without finding the target. Rane came closest again before the break, though Hirekurbar held one effort and a late strike in added time cleared the crossbar. United defended in numbers and Dempo's final ball lacked the precision to open them up, so the sides went in level.
The pressure rose after the restart. A Rane corner found Athul Unnikrishnan, who turned his touch wide of the post when the target looked open. Richmond Owusu then sent in a firm header that Hirekurbar gathered and with the penalty area crowded, Saiesh Bagkar missed a chance by the width of a deflection. Dempo continued to push, but FC Bengaluru United held firm.
With the clock almost spent, Dempo won a corner. Arnold Oliveira delivered it into the box, and Budu met it with a tap-in that brought the PJN to its feet and settled the match at the last possible moment.
"I feel we started really well," said head coach Samir Naik. "We dominated the game entire first half, second half we created so many chances and we scored in the last minute which was important for us. These three points to go ahead in this next fixtures and in the league."
He was full of praise for his players. "Congratulations to our team because they did excellent. They did really well, dominated in every field."
Naik also kept the result in perspective. "We are a young team and we need to learn a lot and we are learning, we are learning every day."
Dempo take three points from their opener and will face Samaleswari SC on November 5, before returning to the PJN Stadium to host Chanmari FC on November 15.
