MARGAO
Ashish Sibi’s brilliant performance in goal helped Dempo secure a crucial 2-0 victory over 10-man Inter Kashi in the I-League 2024-25 on Friday. Damian Perez Roa’s goals at the end of each half sealed the points for Dempo, marking their second win in the last eight games. Inter Kashi, unable to close the gap on the teams above them, remain in third place with 21 points from 13 matches, while Dempo now have 17 points from 13 outings.
The match began with Inter Kashi dominating possession and creating early chances. Matija Babovic’s shot from Edmund Lalrindika’s cross narrowly missed the target, and Sarthak Goloui fired high from outside the box. Disaster struck in the 36th minute when defender Sandip Mandi, already on a yellow, received a second booking for a reckless challenge, reducing Inter Kashi to 10 players.
Dempo capitalized on their numerical advantage six minutes later. Juan Mera’s clever run and perfect cutback allowed Damian to fire into the far corner for a 1-0 lead.
Despite being a man down, Inter Kashi pressed for an equalizer. Babovic, played through one-on-one, was denied by a brilliant save from Sibi, and Lalrindika’s follow-up shot was expertly kept out, ensuring Dempo’s lead remained intact at halftime.
The second half saw Sibi continue his heroics. In the 60th minute, he made another fantastic save, palming away a dinked shot from Lalrindika. Five minutes later, Inter Kashi was awarded a penalty, but Sibi again proved his worth, diving to palm Berlanga’s shot away and preserve the lead.
Dempo sealed the win in the 81st minute after a defensive blunder from Inter Kashi. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya misjudged a long ball, and defender V Bijoy attempted to head it back, but Roa capitalized on the miscommunication, calmly finishing into an empty net to make it 2-0.
Despite a few late scares, Dempo held firm and claimed a vital 2-0 victory, with Sibi’s heroics in goal playing a key role in their success.
Dempo head coach Samir Naik expressed his satisfaction with his team calling it a well-deserved win against a tough opponent.
Naik said after the match, “I’m happy with the result. We played an excellent match against a strong team. We showed great character in the second half, which is exactly what we need.” He added, “We made use of several players, and everyone performed excellently, but we must aim to maintain this level of performance throughout the match.”
In a poignant moment before the match, central defender Mohammed Ali received the news of his father’s passing on Friday. Dempo extends their heartfelt condolences to Ali and his family during this difficult time. Coach Naik also offered his deepest sympathy, saying, "Our thoughts are with Ali and his family. Rest in peace."
