the goan I network
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The home side, Dempo SC defeated the formidable I-League aspirants Gokulam FC (Kerala) 5-2 via tie-breaker to win the inaugural edition of AWES Cup at Duler
on Sunday.
With a strong local support, the Panjim-based Blue Brigade dominated the opening quarter of the game by creating two opportunities. As early as in the third minute, Dempo's Mario Mascarenhas' neat cross to Kapil Hoble found the opposition captain Sushant Mathew fend away the imminent danger adeptly. On the 10th minute, Hoble on receiving a smart cross from Naveen Mendes, once again found Mathew blocking his attempt at target.
While the home team controlled proceedings initially, the visitors gradually grew into the game turning the tables over and began dictating terms. On the 30th minute, Dempo's Beevan D'Mello found space from a fair distance out to lay the ball to Yogesh Kadam who failed to connect with the delivery to edge his team ahead.
On the very next minute, Gokulam's Nigerian mercurial striker, Adelaja Somide brought to immediate memory his semi-final heroics with a similar chip over two defenders and into an open goal from just outside the box. Shortly afterwards, the prolific Somide receive a knock and was taken away to the sidelines.
The visitors reduced to 10 men continued to hold their own admirably with a numerical disadvantage for a good 15 minutes. The prolific-scoring Somide was eventually replaced in added time (45+2') with Shihad N. On 45+3' a scorching long ranger by Gokulam's impressive Ashik Usman brought out a fine diving save by Dempo's custodian, Agnelo Gomes.
Post resumption, and with a solitary goal lead, Gokulam held the momentum despite the loss of their star striker, Somide due to injury. On the 47th minute, arising from a corner taken by the Kerala outfit's Usman, Irshad T.V. got into a good position to double the lead but his header went awry. A shade under the hour of play, Gokulam's Arif Shaikh's fine strike from outside the box found the opposition keeper up to the task. Few minutes later, substitute Nasar D.A. hit his straps immediately when his well-directed cross to Irshad stuck the far post and out of danger.
On the 72nd minute, Gokulam had another shy at goal when Usman's rasping footer sailed over the horizontal. With the game approaching the final quarter, Dempo found the equaliser on the 74th minute when Naveen's shot at goal brushed against Gokulam defender, Ugochukwu Godswill into the empty nets.
In a frenetic last quarter, with both sides searching for the decisive goal, Dempo's Beevan came close to scoring with his header hitting the post on the 80th minute. From the other end, three minutes later, substitute striker, Shihad N. stellar strike at goal arising from a pass received from Irshad was met with a good reflex diving save from the Dempo keeper.
As the game ended in a tie on 1-1 at regulation time, a penalty shootout ensued to decide the winner. While Dempo's Beevan D'Mello, Naveen Mendes, Nickson Castanha and Joaquim Abranches made no mistake on their first three chances, Gokulam only managed to convert on their first attempt through Ashik Usman while Arjun Jayaraj and Shinu S. could not hold their nerve and shot wide. On their fourth opportunity, Dempo's senior pro, Joaquim Abranches' shot on target was buttered by a flying Kerala substitute keeper, Ajmal P.A. into the nylons to send the partisan home Sunday crowd into wild raptures and celebrations.
