SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
Team Herald
RAIA: Dempo Sports Club secured their return to the I-League after a dominant second-half performance saw them overcome Sudeva Delhi FC 3-1 in an I-League 2 clash at the Ella ground, Old Goa, on Saturday.
Sudeva Delhi FC took a surprise lead early in the first half through Ramesh Chetri's header from a Seiminmang Manchong cross.
Dempo SC, aiming for promotion, struggled to break down a resolute Sudeva defense in the opening period and found themselves trailing at halftime.
However, the Goan side emerged from the break with renewed purpose. Shubham Rawat's shot in the 47th minute was initially blocked, but the rebound fell kindly for Laximanrao Rane, who slotted home the equaliser.
The momentum shifted decisively in Dempo SC’s favour when Thiyam Chingkheinganba conceded a penalty for a handball inside the box in the 58th minute. Rahul Paswan stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to give Dempo SC the lead.
Saiesh Bagkar’s perfectly weighted lob in the 68th minute found Rawat, who displayed excellent composure to control the ball, feint a shot, and then fired it past the Sudeva goalkeeper to extend Dempo SC’s advantage. Sudeva Delhi FC threatened a late fightback when Ashray Bhardwaj rattled the woodwork in the 73rd minute, but Dempo SC’s defense held firm to secure a crucial 3-1 victory and return to the I-League.
Dempo SC, thus, finished the season in second place with 27 points, four ahead of Sudeva Delhi FC, who would've secured an immediate promotion back to the I-League had they won.
Earlier this month, Sporting Club Bengaluru were crowned I-League 2 champions and were promoted to the I-League for the first time. They beat city rivals FC Bengaluru United 1-0 on the final day to finish with 33 points, sensationally winning 11 of their 14 games. At the opposite end of the table, the relegation of both Mumbai-based sides, Mumbai Kenkre FC and Maharashtra Oranje FC was confirmed on Saturday.
Both sides met at COE Kharghar, with Maharashtra Oranje running out 1-0 winners, but the three points weren't enough to save themselves as United SC bagged a 2-1 win over Sporting Clube de Goa at Vasco.
The Kolkata side finished on 15 points, the same as Maharashtra Oranje, but pipped them on a better head-to-head record to maintain their I-League 2 status for another season. Mumbai Kenkre ended bottom of the eight-team standings with just nine points in 14 games.
