TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Dempo Sports Club narrowly overcame Sporting Clube de Goa 2-0 in GFA’s Taca Goa U-20 League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday.
Dempo led 1-0 at the breather. Sporting Clube had to contend with nine players on the injured list, which meant some players were playing out of their usual positions and it took some time for them to gel.
Dempo came out strongly and enjoyed a good 20 minutes spell where they kept greater ball possession. In the 27th minute, Clencio Pinto wriggled his way past his marker and fired low to give Dempo the lead.
Three minutes later, Clencio had the opportunity to double the lead but his penalty kick was wonderfully saved by Sporting Clube custodian Alison Fernandes and from the rebound Clencio rattled the cross bar, before Lesten Martins acrobatically hooked the ball away to safety.
Changing over, Sporting Clube was a revitalized side as they looked to get back into contention. The Flaming Oranje dominated and came close on a number of occasions with Yogendra Thapa keeping the Dempo goalkeeper busy.
In the final minutes as Sporting Clube continued their attack, were caught on the break, with Dempo’s Fredsan Marshall placing the ball home to make it 2-0.
