PANAJI
Dempo SC raced into a commanding first-half lead before surviving a ferocious late comeback from Chapora Yuvak Sangh to seal a staggering 6-5 victory.
The tone was set early. In the sixth minute Salgeo Dias slipped a measured pass into Mevan Shawn who wriggled past his marker and finished with assurance. Dempo doubled the advantage soon after when Arnold Oliveira’s corner delivery caused panic in the box and Rahul Rodrigues forced it home.
Chapora responded with intent. A neat move involving Rohan Uttam Kamble and Cyprian Rodrigues ended with Soham Sheticar tapping in to pull one back. But Dempo remained clinical. A penalty earned after a foul inside the area was dispatched by Sairon Albuquerque and Arnold Oliveira added a fourth from a free kick that beat the defensive wall and the goalkeeper sending Dempo into the break 4-1 ahead.
The second half flipped the script, Chapora emerged with belief. Cyprian turned provider once more as Sheticar rose to head in his second. Moments later from a corner routine, Veron Fabien Pereira’s header was guided in by Edwin Viegas to make it 4-3 and set up a grandstand finish.
Dempo steadied themselves at the right time. Jodric Abranches’ incisive pass allowed Murphy Fernandes to restore breathing space before Abranches again lofted a precise ball for Jordan Borges to finish stretching the lead to 6-3.
Chapora refused to fold. Sheticar completed his hat trick in stoppage time, and a late penalty converted by Veron Pereira reduced the deficit to one. The final minutes were frantic but Dempo held firm.
