the goan I network
DULER
Dempo Sports Club registered a convincing 2-0 win over Churchill Brothers Sports Club in their concluding Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Sunday.
Golden Eagles struck a goal in each session of play through Mario Mascarenhas (17th min) and Jaison Vaz (84th min) to confirm all three points from the match. With this win, Dempo concluded their season in runners-up position with 48 points, while Churchill finished at the 7th position with just 26 points.
It was sad to notice that once where thousands attended the derby between these two teams, there were just three paid spectators along with press media, reserved team members and some senior citizens came to witness the rescheduled match which was moved from April 29. It is learnt that the association failed to notify any media about the rescheduled match.
For the Golden Eagles, Suraj Hadkonkar and Vinit Bugde made the first start for the Dempo, while their coach Samir Naik also included Edwin Viegas, Mario Mascarenhas and Gaurish Naik in the starting XI, following their quarter-final defeat in the Goa Police Cup against the same opponents, whereas Churchill gaffer Alfred Fernandes made three changes as Arvind Silva, Sevlon Cardozo and Nicholas Fernandes made it to the Starting XI.
After a midfield play in the first 15 minutes, Dempo had the first crack at the rival goal in the 17th minute when Gaurish Naik’s effort was superbly fisted over the crossbar by Churchill custodian James Kithan. However, Dempo surged ahead from the resulting corner as Mario Mascarenhas made an easy tap-in from Latesh Mandrekar’s well-taken corner, 1-0.
Dempo should have doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Gaurish sent an intelligent through pass to Suraj in the box but keeper Kithan blocked his powerful shot from close. Churchill keeper Kithan came with two back to back saves in the 40th minute as he first blocked Latesh’s shot from close, while a few seconds later, Desmon Pereira’s goal-bound shot was fisted by the keeper over the crossbar.
On resumption of play, Dempo lost another glorious chance to further extend their lead in the 58th minutes when Vinit moved inside the goal area from the left flank and shot on the goal from an acute angle but Churchill keeper Kithan stretched to block it and the ball rolled to an unmarked Suraj, but the striker blasted the ball into the sky from inside the box.
Churchill’s best chance to pull a goal came in the 65th minute, but U-20 midfielder Sevlon shot wide from close with just Dempo keeper Tyson Caiado at his mercy. After some probing attacks, Dempo finally managed to consolidate their lead in the 84th minute when substitute striker Jaison Vaz collected a through pass from another substitute player Beevan D’Mello and beat the onrushing keeper with an adroit placement, 2-0.
