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PANAJI
Dempo SC thrashed Vasco SC 6-1 in the match 5 of the Goa Sevens Premier League, organised by Goa Sevens and Ambelim Sports Club in association with Goa Football Association (GFA) at Ambelim Sports Complex,
on Friday.
The Dempo side playing their first game of the Sevens tournament started the match with a strong line-up with Nickson Castanha leading the team which also included Suraj Hadkonkar, who was GSPL 1’s leading goal scorer. On the other hand, the port towners were missing the services of their skipper Micky Fernandes, who received a red card in their opening game. The Vasco side fielded three new players, Suresh Lamani, Trayson D’Costa and Steven Colaco, in their
starting seven.
The Vasco side came close to scoring in the 10th minute of the game as Anil Gaonkar lobbed the ball to Steven Colaco but the dangerous ball was cleared in time by the Dempo back. On the other hand, the Golden Eagles almost scored in the next attempt but Suraj Hadkonkar’s curling long footer was tapped away by an alert Vasco custodian.
But he made no mistake to tap the ball in from the next attempt off Desmon Pereira’s right side cross earning their side an early lead. The Dempo side doubled their lead comfortably five minutes later after Vineet Bugde shot straight low into the nets off Desmon’s back pass. Naveen Mendes added a third goal for the Dempo side with a neat strike that landed straight into the post.
Moving into the second half, the Vasco side brought in Franky Oliveira who provided some boost to the team. But nothing seemed to stop Dempo, who made it 4-0 from the spot through Naveen Mendes after the referee pointed for a penalty after the ball hit Vasco defender Godfrey Mascarenhas’s hand.
Vasco were made to drop low almost the entire session with constant attacks from the Eagles as Beevan D’Mello and Latesh Mandrekar were brought in as substitutes which further boosted the side’s attack. Vasco managed to pull one goal back as Franky Oliveira converted for the port towners from the spot.
The final minutes saw Dempo add two more goals. First, Naveen Mendes converted from the spot while next, Nickson Castanha’s long ranger landed straight into the top corner of the post giving the Golden Eagles a 6-1 win.
PLAYING TODAY
GSPL Women’s Football Festival: Euro Connexion vs Black Arrows, 7 pm; Ambelim Queens vs Royal Builders, 8 pm, Ambelim Sports Complex, Ambelim
