Team Herald
PANJIM: Dempo Sports Club rounded off their campaign in the Second Division I-League on a winning note with a 1-0 success against Hyderabad FC at Ella gound, Old Goa, on Thursday.
Second-half substitute Saiesh Bagkar, who came in place of Vieri Colaco, scored the all-important goal in the 85th minute to take Dempo’s points tally to 14 from eight matches. Dempo finished three points behind ARA FC and Ambernath United, both of whom were tied on 17 points each.
Golden Eagles forward Beneston Barretto was through on goal in the first minute itself but it was a reflex save from Hyderabad goalkeeper Manas Dubey that denied the forward the intended goal. Few minutes later, a similar approach play and attempt saw Manas thwart livewire Beneston once again.
Hyderabad came close to scoring from set pieces. Cris Sherpa saw his measured free kick from the top of the box, miss the left post by a whisker; before Soyal Joshi’s powerful drive was palmed over the crossbar by Dempo goalie Dylan da Silva.
Missing some of their regulars, Dempo coach Samir Naik started with Kirtikesh Gadekar in the central midfield and gave a starting opportunity to defender Kuldeep Kumar, who did well to initiate the attack deep in the second half.
He found Beneston on the right side near the rival penalty area, with his perfectly-weighted pass before the speedy Dempo striker dribbled past a couple of rival defenders and set up an onrushing Saiesh, who finished with a powerful volley evading the diving goalie Manas.
