the goan I network
PANAJI
Dempo Sports Club extended their lead at the top with 44 points following their 2-1 win over Sporting Clube de Goa in the Goa Football Association’s Professional League at Dempo Academy ground, Ella-Old Goa, on Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles, who have played 18 matches, are five points clear of Flaming Oranje, who stand second in the table, with 40 points from 19 games. The battle at the top is not all over as FC Goa are lurking in the third spot with 39 points having played 16 games while Salgaocar FC are in the fourth spot with 35 points having played same number of games. Joaquim Abranches scored both the goals for the Golden Eagles while Marcus Mascarenhas got on to the score-sheet for Sporting Clube de Goa.
Sporting Clube de Goa began the match on an attacking note and dominated the play in the first 15 minutes of the game wherein they constantly pressed the Dempo Sports Club in their own half. After constant raids, the Flaming Oranje finally broke the deadlock when Marcus Mascarenhas smashed from close range which the Dempo SC goalkeeper Tyson Caidoo could have done better to stop the ball. However, the Flaming Oranje ran short of ideas against a side who were playing on their home turf and soon were on the back foot. Making the most of the shift in the game, Dempo Sports Club made it all square at the half-hour mark through Joaquim Abranches who scored brilliantly connecting to a Jessel Carneiro’s cross. The teams were tied 1-1 at the breather.
Crossing over, both the sides started with rotating the ball in the midfield and maintaining possession. But it was Dempo SC who came with a goal in the 67th minute when Joaquim scored from a crowded six-yard box to make it 2-1 as the final score remained same for the leaders.
