MAPUSA: Dempo Sports Club opened their campaign with a solitary goal victory over newly promoted Vasco Sports Club in round one of Goa Football Association’s (GFA) Goa Pro League football, At Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
The Blue Eagles took charge of the proceedings and broke the deadlock in the 35th minute through a penalty converted by Afghan international Haroon Amiri.
Vasco did make an earnest start but simply lacked creativity upfront. The Black and Whites are in rebuilding their team and it clearly showed.
Dempo’s best chances were created in the form of Holicharan Narzary but the striker saw his efforts miss the mark on three separate occasions. Then, Sahil Tavora and skipper Clifford Miranda tried their luck from close but Vasco’s veteran custodian Francis Fernandes left them frustrated.
However, ten minutes before the break, Vasco defender Frehauf Fernandes handled the ball inside the danger zone and referee Tejas Narvekar pointed out to the spot-kick.
Amiri stepped up for the resultant penalty and converted with ease, sending Francis the wrong way.
Post resumption, Vasco tried hard to crawl their way back into the match as young Quan Gomes worked his magic in the midfield but their lone striker Jerose Oliveira was not given breathing space by the Dempo defence.
At the other end, Gabriel Fernandes came in place of U-20 Sahil on the right-flank and the former could have doubled the lead if not his shot was blocked by teammate Amiri off a Clifford flag-kick.
Vasco put up a spirited performance in the final quarter with coach Mathew D’Costa making some key substitutions but the Panjim-outfit did enough to hold on to their slender lead.
