the goan I network
DULER
Dempo Sports Club rode on two first half goals to squeeze past Salgaocar Football Club 2-1 in the 14th round match of the Goa Professional League organised by GFA at Duler stadium, here on Tuesday.
Dempo continued to keep up their winning streak against their opponents whom they had defeated in their first leg meeting by a 2-0 margin. After the win, Dempo SC have 27 points from 12 matches, while Salgaocar stay on 11 points from 10 matches.
Dempo coach Samir Naik, smarting from their last league match defeat at the hands of Goan Football Club by a 3-0 margin, brought in three changes -- Latesh Mandrekar, Nickson Castanha and Desmon Pereira. At the other end, it was almost the same story for Salgaocar FC coach Norbert Gonsalves who saw his team loose to Sporting Clube de Goa in their last match and he made three changes in his starting line-up -- Samuel Costa, James Fernandes and Stephen Alvares.
Dempo started brightly, playing with the swagger and confidence that comes with the knowledge that you are on a familiar territory. At the quarter of the match, Naveen Mendes sent a cross to Kapil Hoble who in turn headed the ball to Latesh Mandrekar but the latter shot weakly into Salgaocar keeper S Rajini Kumar’s hands.
At the other end, Salgaocar’s Gilbert Oliveira found Devendra Murgaonkar inside the penalty box but he was late to connect. In the 26th minute, Velito Cruz combined with Beevan D’Mello and drilled a shot at the goal which was pushed for a corner by Salgaocar keeper Rajini for a corner. From the resultant corner by Nickson Castanha the ball came to Desmon Pereira whose strike rebounded off the crossbar and travelled to Beevan D’Mello who guided the ball into the goal, 1-0. Four minutes before the breather, the Golden Eagles extended their lead as Kapil Hoble, weaving past a host of defenders, scored from top of the penalty box, 2-0.
Probably a dressing down by coach Gonsalves at the break must have done the trick as Green Brigade players returned transformed, showing more urgency in their attack. A superb low curling cross at the goal area by Nigerian Yinka Joel Sunday in the 52nd minute saw Devendra fail to connect it into the goal. At the other end, Beevan moved on the right flank and flashed the ball to Desmon Pereira inside the penalty box who drilled a fierce shot which was timely blocked by Salgaocar defender Joaquim Carvalho.
In the 58th minute, Salgaocar’s Samuel Costa sent a perfect cross to Joel Sunday whose header was stylishly collected by Dempo keeper Agnelo Gomes. Salgaocar showed good creativity and finally pulled a goal back in the 60th minute when Joel Sunday latched on to a power-packed shot at the goal which was blocked by keeper Agnelo and the ball came to Clencio Pinto who slotted it into the back of the nets, 2-1.
Spurred by the goal, Green Brigade colts pinned their opponents inside their territory and came with repeated raids in search of the equaliser. A curling cross from the right by Agnelo Colaco saw Dempo keeper Agnelo pair the ball to safety with a diving save.
As the match progressed, Dempo defender Mathew Gonsalves came with a great save as he timely cleared the ball for a corner to deny Joel Sunday from scoring. Luck did not smile for Salgaocar as a minute before the hooter, a goal-bound shot by Agnelo Colaco was cleared for a corner by defender Nickson Castanha.
