Marcus Joseph strike not enough as Rajasthan United FC claim 2-1 win
PANAJI
The result on Sunday evening was not what Dempo had come for but what they leave with is precisely what this season demanded. A 1-2 defeat to Rajasthan United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda could not overshadow the bigger picture. Dempo Sports Club have secured their place in the Championship Round of the Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26, sixth in the Stage 1 standings with nine points, finishing above Aizawl FC.
It was a bittersweet evening at Fatorda. Head Coach Samir Naik made one change to his starting lineup with Ariston Costa coming in for Darell Mascarenhas. The breakthrough came in the twenty-second minute a sharp pass from Kapil Hoble into the box was flicked on cleverly by Nestor Dias and Marcus Joseph was there to finish, giving Dempo the lead. The first half was largely a midfield contest, Rajasthan United showed glimpses of their quality as the half wore on but could not find a way through a disciplined Dempo defensive shape. The Golden Eagles went into the break a goal to the good.
The second half told a different story. Just sixty seconds after the restart, a defensive error handed Rajasthan United their lifeline, Gerard Artigas pouncing to level at 1-1 in the forty-sixth minute. Dempo had barely had time to regroup when the visitors struck again. In the fifty-seventh minute a brilliant delivery from Thomyo Shimray left Ashish Sibi with no chance and Rajasthan United were in front.
Dempo pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages. Richmond Owusu had a tight chance but was denied by a sharp save from James Kithan. Later Sebastian Gutierrez met a delivery with a header from close range only for Kithan to produce another crucial stop and keep Rajasthan's lead intact.
From ninth place and winless to the Championship Round, back-to-back 3-0 victories over Shillong Lajong FC and Aizawl FC followed by a battling display against one of the league's strongest sides on the final day. The Golden Eagles finish Stage 1 with nine points and secure their place in the Championship Round.
