Clinical Golden Eagles deliver their most complete performance of the season in emphatic fashion ==
PANAJI
Dempo SC delivered their most complete performance of the Star Cement IFL 2025-26 campaign, sweeping aside Shillong Lajong FC with a commanding 3-0 victory that never looked in doubt. The Golden Eagles were clinical, disciplined and relentless, a statement win that will send a clear message to the rest of the division.
Head Coach Samir Naik named an unchanged lineup, a show of faith in a squad that responded with their finest display of the season.
Dempo were on the front foot from the first whistle. Richmond Owusu threatened early before Marcus Joseph found him with a sharp forward ball, only for Shillong Lajong goalkeeper Siwel Rymbai to stand firm. The breakthrough however, was not long in coming. Joseph collected the ball inside the area and fired a precise effort straight into the net to hand Dempo a deserved lead. Joseph continued to trouble the Lajong defence, testing Rymbai on more than one occasion as Dempo grew in confidence.
Shillong Lajong offered a brief moment of concern midway through the half when Ashish Sibi was caught off his line, but Aubin Kouakou read the danger superbly, producing a brilliant tackle to avert the threat. A precise cross from Saiesh Bagkar was parried by Rymbai, only for Lajong defender Saveme Tariang to turn the ball into his own net under pressure, doubling Dempo's advantage, the Golden Eagles soaring. Sibi then produced a commanding save late in the half to deny Phrangki Buam's header and preserve Dempo's clean sheet heading into the break.
The second half brought more of the same. Lajong's Rymbai was shown a yellow card after bringing down Saiesh Bagkar in the penalty area and Richmond Owusu stepped up to dispatch the spot kick with composure, making it 3-0 and putting the contest firmly beyond reach.
Dempo continued to push for more. Damian Perez went close late on before Sebastian Gutierrez tested Rymbai with a sharp effort that cleared the woodwork, the Golden Eagles refusing to take their foot off the gas until the final whistle.
