MARGAO
United Sports Club, Kolkata held on a 1-1 draw against five times champion Dempo Sports Club in the I-League 2, at Dempo Sports Club Academy, Ella, Old Goa, on Wednesday.
In a must win match for the Dempo team, Kolkata team manager Anjan Nath fielded a defensive team with their goalkeeper Sourav Samanta making two crucial saves for United Sports Club.
Dempo got numerous chances to score but could not manage to score as their strikers were left frustrated with some sloppy finishing.
On the other hand, United Sports Club failed to make much impact in the match going forward and will be happy with the draw. At the end of the final whistle, Kolkata team celebrated the draw like they won the match knowing that a defeat could only land up in trouble for the knockout stage.
The match between Dempo and United Sports Club was a rollercoaster ride as it proceeded. Right from the start, both the team had a good outlook towards their game plan. Both of the teams had a good offense as well as defense. The game was a series of splendid crosses, sumptous plays, spectacular defense and magnificent striking. The game basically consisted a series of attacks and counter-attacks.
In the very second minute, Dempo took the lead when attacking midfielder Necio Fernandes did well to down a ball on the left flank and dribble past his marker to get inside the box and score off Laximanarao Rane's well measured cross.
Spurred by the early success, Dempo Sports Club went close when Seigoumang Doungle blasted wide off a well measured cross from Rahul Kumar Paswan.
Dempo made another close attempt. Their high cross was saved by the goalkeeper who caught the balls and was the pioneer of another counter from Dempo. The counter was primarily defended by the defenders of Kolkata team but Dempo kept on persuading and had a close call as the ball fell for Laximanrao Rane who did well to sell a dummy before firing in a shot that went inches away from the post.
The second half began with Necio Fernandes coming close to doubling the lead earlier on when his shot from edge of the box missed the target narrowly. At the other end, United Sports Club's Sahil Harijan muffed sitter.
Rohilupia came close with a low cross across the box that just needed a touch for a goal only for his teammates but his attempt was well blocked by the Dempo goalkeeper. In the 53rd minute, Dipesh Murmu pounced on the deflection to beat the Dempo goalkeeper.
Dempo had couple of scoring chances but their forwards ran out ideas after reaching the rival penalty area hold on till the end of the final whistle.
