PANAJI
Dempo Sports Club produced a commanding and confident performance to defeat Bidesh XI SC 3-1 in the Goa Professional League clash at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Friday. The Golden Eagles combined attacking flair with defensive resilience in a match that delivered end-to-end football, fine goals, and moments of intensity from both sides.
The game began at a lively pace with Bidesh XI creating the first real chances in the earky minutes of the game. A clever attacking move carved open the Dempo defence but Beckham Fernandes was quick to react throwing himself into a decisive block to deny the early effort.
Dempo replied almost immediately through Topon Minj, whose 13th-minute corner swung dangerously into the area before being cleanly collected by Bidesh goalkeeper Cydon D’Souza. The match grew heated soon after when Bidesh’s Kirtikesh Gadekar picked up the first yellow card for a push on Asmon Viegas setting the tone for a physical contest.
In the 31st minute Dempo nearly found the breakthrough as Topon Minj let fly a dipping strike that deflected into the path of Asmon, but Cydon D’Souza once again stood firm, clutching the ball safely. Five minutes later Dempo’s Arnold Oliveira pounced on a misplaced clearance from Cydon himself and unleashed a powerful attempt that flew inches over the bar.
The pressure finally paid off in the 42nd minute when Dempo broke the deadlock. From a perfectly weighted delivery by Topon Minj, Mevan Dias rose above his marker and guided a deft header into the net to make it 1-0 sending the Dempo bench into celebration.
After the restart Bidesh tried to impose themselves higher up the pitch but struggled to find rhythm against Dempo’s well-organised structure. The game continued with a series of strong tackles, Asmon Viegas was booked in the 61st minute after a shove on Desmon Pereira, while Salgeo Dias saw yellow minutes later following a tangle with Fredsan Marshall.
Dempo’s second goal arrived in style in the 71st minute. After recovering possession deep in midfield Salgeo picked out substitute Necio Fernandes with a perfectly judged long ball. Necio Fernandes controlled it expertly advanced into the box and placed his shot beyond the reach of Cydon D’Souza to double the advantage at 2-0.
Bidesh continued to fight and came agonisingly close in the 74th minute when a low cross from the right rolled inches wide of an open goal. Their persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute when Fredsan Marshall broke forward to intercept a loose ball and set up Prathamesh Gaonkar who unleashed a fierce shot into the corner to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The final moments saw both teams push hard, but Dempo’s experience proved decisive. In the 89th minute Laximanrao Rane found himself through on goal, but his shot was superbly saved by Cydon. However deep into stoppage time, Rane capitalised on a defensive lapse to finish calmly into an open net, sealing the 3-1 win for Dempo.
The full-time whistle confirmed another statement victory for the Golden Eagles, who displayed tactical creativity and composure under pressure. While Bidesh XI showed promise and resilience, Dempo’s precision and control in key moments ultimately made the difference.
