DULER
Dempo Sports Club scripted a hard-fought 1-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Selvel Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa. Velanco Rodrigues scored the lone goal of the game in the 85th minute for the Golden Eagles.
It was more of a balanced start in the opening minutes but Velsao SCC looked stronger in their attacks. In the first notable moves, Lenny managed to win a header but couldn't direct it on target after Chadel's lofted shot from outside narrowly sailed over the bar.
In the 20th minute, Dempo's Saiesh Bagkar tried his luck from a distance but his weak left-footed shot was easily collected by Velsao custodian Jeet Gupta. At the other end, Velsao had a good chance to take the lead. The opportunity came from a set-piece when Velito Cruz sent in a long delivery from the halfway mark in the box which Cajetan Fernandes had time to head onto the frame. However, his effort was cleanly collected by Antonio. Dempo then earned a series of corners but they couldn't capitalise on any of them.
At the half-hour mark, Velsao's Chadel intercepted a Dempo pass and tried a shot from a distance that sailed over the bar. Dempo gained momentum late in the first half and during one of their raids, Velsao keeper Gupta was forced to come out of his line to collect a cross before Pedro Gonsalves could pounce on it.
Chadel was doing everything he could for Velsao and soon after the restart, the youngster tried another shot from the right which was straight at Antonio. In the 55th minute, Daryl Mascarenhas, on seeing the keeper out of frame, fired a shot from a distance, but fortunately for Velsao, the shot dipped just over the crossbar. Unable to get past the last line, Velsao too tried to test the keeper from distance and Ronil Azavedo had two of his shots saved by Dempo keeper Antonio.
In the 65th minute, Velsao's Chadel missed yet another effort when he headed in a freekick but his free header went wide. Velsao just couldn't get the goal and they had their shot saved off the line in the 75th minute. Cajetan Fernandes played Chadel through on goal on the right and with the keeper rushing out, the lad sent in a low cross to an unmarked Ronil, whose shot was cleared off the goalline by a Dempo defender.
Dempo finally broke the deadlock in the 85th minute when a low cross from the left found U20 player Velanco Rodrigues, who made no mistake in shooting past the onrushing keeper. In the dying minutes, Shallum made a crucial save to deny Ronil from scoring.
