MAPUSA: Dempo Sports Club maintained their lead at the top scoring a fluent 3-1 win over Salgaocar Football club in the Goa Football Association Super League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday.
Dempo SC took first half lead through Saiesh Bagkar which was equalised by Mark Carvalho for Salgaocar in the 80th minute. Darell Mascarenhas netted the second for Dempo in 87th minute and Necio Fernandes the third in 90th minute to ensure full points for his side.
It was end to end battle in the opening minutes.
Salgaocar’s Samuel Costa’s played a defense splitting pass to Fhezer Gomes who cut past a defender and made himself room to fire, but the ball hit the side post and came back into the play where Antush Moniz struck the rebound but Dempo keeper recovered to push the ball out for a corner kick.
Dempo custodian Wellyster Mendes came with a timely clearance before Fhezer could get to the end of Sidhart Kundaikar’s long ball.
Salgaocar had another shot at goal when Samuel played Antush, but his shot went narrowly wide.
At the other end, it was Dempo SC’s Pedro Gonsalves who attempted a shot only to see it go past the Salgaocar defenders and the post.
Dempo has another chance when Ariston passed on to Darell on the right but the lad’s shot was straight to the keeper.
Saiesh Bagkar gave Dempo the lead just before the breather when Salgaocar FC keeper played a misplaced pass straight to Dempo player and latter scored with ease into the empty net.
Dempo nearly doubled the lead from a quick counter but Ariston Costa shot was well saved by the keeper.
Salgaocar were handed an opportunity to get the goal when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box, but Salgaocar players failed to connect to Samuel Costa’s dangerous delivery in the box.
In the second half, Dempo almost scored the second through Saiesh, but his shot from inside the box beat the keeper, but hit the post and came back into the play.
Dempo SC custodian who had a light first half, had little trouble in dealing with Saurabh Patil’s header.
Saurabh Patil squandered yet another opportunity from inside the box when Fhezer squared the box to him. With just the keeper at his mercy, Saurabh’s left foot shot went past the post.
In the 80th minute, Salgaocar scored the equalising goal from a corner. Mark Carvalho nodded in a Samuel Costa’s corner.
With time still left for the final whistle, Dempo scored the winner through Darell Mascarenhas who lobbed the ball over the keeper.
In the dying minutes of the game, Dempo scored their third when second half substitutes — Alber Gonsalves and Necio Fernandes combined to score. Alber nutmegged a Salgaocar defender and set up a perfect pass to Necio inside the box, who had to just tap home from close. Necio had another chance to score but the lad failed to keep his shot in the frame from close.
