Dempo SC stunned by Kauko's late header

MARGAO

A late header from Finnish midfielder Joni Ensio Kauko in the 88th minute secured a 1-0 victory for Inter Kashi over five-time national champions Dempo Sports Club in the I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Friday.

The goal separated the two teams in a tightly contested encounter. With the win, Inter Kashi, from Uttar Pradesh, moved to the top of the table with 14 points from seven matches, while Dempo suffered their second consecutive home defeat, remaining on 10 points from 10 matches.

Kauko’s decisive header came late in the game, ensuring a hard-fought victory for Inter Kashi. Acting head coach Carlos Augustin Fonseca praised his team’s determination: "We played well to secure the win, and our defense was outstanding, helping us earn three crucial points. Despite the tight schedule, the team is working hard, and I’m pleased with their performance. They remain focused," said Fonseca.

Dempo's head coach, Samir Naik, expressed disappointment after the loss: "We played a lukewarm match, created few chances, and unfortunately, we couldn’t convert them into goals," he said.

Inter Kashi started the match strongly, looking to seize control early. Spain striker Domingo Berlanga Ouggbouti fired a long-range shot in the fourth minute, but it deflected off a defender. Dempo responded with a sharp attempt from defender Aritra Das, which was well-saved by Dempo goalkeeper Ashish Sibi. At the other end, Dempo's struggles continued, with Buam Singh's shot narrowly missing the target. The foreign contingent, including Argentina’s Cristian Perez Roha and Serbia’s Matija Babovic, failed to make an impact, with both players looking rusty.

Aritra Das had a golden opportunity in the 36th minute but missed the target. Inter Kashi continued to dominate possession, with Domingo Ouggbouti unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box, but Sibi made a solid save. Inter Kashi’s pressure mounted after the break, with Sibi forced into key saves from Ouggbouti and Kauko.

Kauko came close again with a strike from the edge of the box, just missing the target. The crucial goal came in the 88th minute when Kauko headed home off a floated cross from Ouggbouti, giving goalkeeper Sibi no chance.

Dempo had a golden opportunity to level the score earlier when Seigoumang Doungle’s snap shot was blocked by Inter Kashi goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya after a through pass from Buam.