PANAJI
Dempo SC secured a 2-1 victory over Cortalim Villagers in the Goa Professional League Super League at Nagoa ground on Monday, with a late penalty sealing the deal.
Dempo took control early, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute. Beckham sliced through Cortalim’s defense with a perfectly timed through ball to Velanco, who squared it across the box for Salgeo Dias to slot home with a clinical low finish. The Golden Eagles continued to press and nearly doubled their lead when Aryan Poll threaded a precise pass to Dias inside the box, but the forward’s strike sailed just wide.
Cortalim came out firing after the break and found their equalizer in style. Ronil Vaz’s pinpoint free-kick into the danger zone was met by Velroy Carvalho, who nodded it down for Jaison Vaz. Without hesitation, Jaison struck a stunning first-time half-volley past the keeper, restoring parity.
Dempo pushed forward in search of a winner and came agonizingly close when Murphy dispossessed Pushkar and teed up Shreyash Naik, whose thunderous shot rattled the crossbar. But the breakthrough arrived in the dying moments. A curling corner from Topon Minj found Pratik Naik, whose header struck a defender’s hand, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Sairon Albuquerque stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty, sealing all three points for Dempo SC.
Meanwhile, at Duler Stadium, Sesa FA and CD Salgaocar played out a goalless draw in a hard-fought contest.
