MAPUSA: Dempo Sports Club registered a 2-0 win over defending champions Churchill Brothers Football Club in the Goa Professional league match played at Duler stadium here on Saturday.
Two goals in the first half by Richard Cardozo (6″) and Gaurav Vaingankar (40″) minute saw Dempo now stand with seven points from fourth league match while defending championship Churchill Brothers stays with just three points.
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The Red Machines started earnestly in the first half an hour of the match putting immense pressure on the rival citadel.
Newly signed striker Afdal Varikkodan had two close chances to put Red Machine ahead but failed.
In the second minute, a long ball from his keeper saw Afdal control the ball, beat the onrushing keeper Melroy but as the ball was rolling into the goal Dempo defender Edwin Viegas brought a goal-line clearance.
Minutes later, while Afdal’s efforts from inside the penalty box was blocked by the defense, Dempo stunned their opponents with a sixth minute goal, where a rasping 35-yard shot by U20 Richard Cardozo crashed into the back of the nylons to give his side the lead.
Churchill were lucky to escape from a penalty after defender Bersal Viegas brought down Gaurav Vaingankar just outside the penalty box, where a strong appeal from the Dempo players was turned down by referee David Rebello.
Another close chance went in vain for Red Machine for an equalizer in the 28th minute where a stiff grounder by U-20 Jobern Cardozo just inside the penalty box went just past the far goal post with keeper Melroy beaten and overlapping Mohammed Shahsad sliding attempt to connect the ball went in vain.
Dempo’s Richard should have netted his brace but failed to get the better of Churchill keeper Debnath Mondal in one-to-one situation off a floater from Kirtikesh Gadekar.
However in the 40th minute, Churchill’s defense was caught napping where a long free-kick by Shallum Pires beat three of rival defenders to find Gaurav Vaingankar nod the ball into the goal to make it 2-0.
Two close attempts in the early stages of the second half was squandered by Golden Eagles.
Gaurav’s header off Richard corner went just over the cross bar while U-20 Nigel Fernandes could not get the better of onrushing Churchill keeper Debnath after Richard had done the spadework.
Red Machine should have reduced the margin in the 59th minute but substitute Rakesh Das strike from close off Jobern cross was blocked by keeper Melroy at the first post.
Golden Eagles looked content with their two goals lead with Red Machine time and again attacking the rival citadel but failed to get past the rival defenders and the keeper, to see Dempo secure a victory after their last match defeat to FC Goa.
In the stoppage time a long free-kick by Churchill’s Rakesh Das came off the far top goal post.
