MAPUSA: Dempo Juniors held their nerves to get the better of A.A.De Moira 2-1 in the GFA’S Geno First Division League played at Duler stadium here on Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s win, Dempo Juniors have 11 points from 8 matches while Moira have 10 points from 8 matches.
In an evenly contested encounter, all the goals were scored in the second half with Danstan Fernandes and Altroy Rodrigues finding the net for Dempo while Rudresh Tendulkar pulled one back for Moira.
Moira had the first attempt in the 21st minute when Klusner Pereira’s well struck free-kick hit the post and went out.
Minutes later, Klusner whipped a cross into the box but it was well stopped by Dempo keeper Wellyster and before Savio could pounce onto the loose ball it was cleared for a corner by defender Deepraj Gouekar.
Crossing ends, Dempo started brightly and broke the deadlock in the 51st minute through Danstan Fernandes who unleashed a fierce right footer which bulged into the net leaving no chance to the keeper.
Dempo got their second goal ten minutes later when Altroy’s Rodrigues free-kick somehow managed to creep into the net despite the valiant attempt of the Moira keeper to make it 2-0.
Down by two goals, Moira regrouped themselves and managed to pull a goal back in the 67th minute through Rudresh Tendulkar who punished some sloppy defending by Dempo Juniors to set up an exciting finish after Lloyd Mascarenhas had done the spadework.
Buoyed by the success, Moira kept pressurising and nearly made it 2-2 in the 79th minute but Lloyd Mascarenhas fluffed his lines at the crucial juncture from a pinpoint cross delivered by Klusner and the ball came to defender Tippanna who without wasting any time cleared the ball. Dempo’s Altroy Rodrigues received the man-of-the-match award from Katz Naidoo- Technical Director of Dempo SC.
