The Goan Network
MARGAO
Minerva Academy FC registered its third win when they overcame a depleted five times champion Dempo Sports Club 1-0 in the Western Conference 2nd Division I-League match at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, Punjab on Sunday.
The match started off with Dempo right into the business as they attacked from the word go. The five time champions upped the ante and came up with a flurry of attacks but were not able to break the deadlock in during the first 25 minutes of the opening session. At the other end, the home team in the absence of Jagpreet and Prabhjot, who both were suspended, took little time to settle down as Dempo SC were all over the field.
Once the home team put their feet firm, there was no turning back as they unleashed a flurry of attacks. The first chance for the Minervans came in the 7th minute of the game when Krishna was brought down near the corner flag. The ensuing free kick, however, did not prove to be dangerous as defence cleared it comfortably. Thereafter, the Minervans displayed their true game with some beautiful one touch passing with Bala doing the maximum from the centre of the field.
In one such passing threads, Bala released Manvir off a beautiful through-ball but the Dempo goalkeeper was alert enough to thwart off the danger.
Dempo also absorbed the pressure and were relying on the counter to surprise the home team. In the 15th minute, an inch-perfect cross from the right met Steven Fernandes inside the box. But before he could do anything, Akashdeep came to the rescue. Four minutes later, Minerva nearly got the lead when Bala had a through ball for Manvir and Aji Demenenge to chase. However, Joy Ferrao came up with a brilliant tackle to deny the Minervans a goal. On the counter, Dempo forced Minervans goalkeeper Shayan Roy to come off his line to keep the scoreline 0-0.
The match them slowed down as it was mainly restricted in the middle of the park. But Dempo got another chance in the 37th minute when the home side were caught on the counter. Had it not been for Shayan’s brilliance, the deadlock would have been broken.
In the 40th minute, former India U-16 captain Krishna Pandit made a run down the left flank before he found Manvir Singh to take the ball forward. Manvir, running past two defenders, wrong-footed another one at the edge of the box, but his try hit the
Dempo central defender
Chikka Wali’s leg and eluded Dempo goalkeeper Tyson Caido. The match went into the break with a 1-0 scoreline. Dempo started the second half with much vigour but really never came close to threatening the Minervan’s tight defence. Meanwhile, not content with just the one-goal lead, the Pride of Punjab was looking for the double as they continued with their beautiful one-touch game. In the 60th minute, Bala found Amandeep running down the centre and threaded the ball through two defenders. Amandeep passed over to Demy at the edge of the box who gave a one-touch pass to Manvir whose shot was brilliantly saved again by Tyson to keep Dempo’s hope alive in the match.
In the 67th minute, the diminutive winger from Sikkim, Dilliram was introduced in place of Krishna Pandit. His introduction gave new lease of life to the home side, as he created few more chances for the forwards.
