PANJIM: Dempo Sports Club made the winning start to their I-League 2 2022-23 campaign as they defeated FC Goa by a solitary goal at Dempo Academy Ground on Wednesday evening. Brian Faria scored the all-important goal for the Golden Eagles in added minutes of the first half.
The host were denied a penalty when Beneston’s goalbound strike from just inside the box hit FC Goa defender Versly Paes’ hand but referee Mohammed Junaid who was very close denied Dempo’s appeal for the spot kick in the 8th minute.
On the other hand, the ISL development side took some time to settle down and came with their first attack in the 11th minute as Jordan Borges sent an inch-perfect through pass to Mevan Dias who darted in the box but failed to keep his strike on target. The next few minutes witnessed a couple of attacks from the visitors but on both occasions, Velroy Fernandes shot wide from the edge of the box.
Dempo came close to opening their account when Darrell Mascarenhas made a brilliant long pass to Beneston. The forward saw onrushing Pedro and released a through pass but FCG keeper Hansel Coelho came off his line to thwart the forward. The Junior Gaurs also had a chance to surge ahead in the 35th minute when Delton made a darting run from their own half, cutting past a few opponents on his way and finding unmarked Jordon Borges at the top of rival’s box but the lad could not find the net as his weak strike was comfortably collected by Dempo keeper Dylan Da Silva.
Dempo finally managed to open their tally in the I-League 2 in the added minutes of the first session as a well-taken corner by Kirtikesh was smartly headed in by Brian at the far post to make it 1-0. Their forward Beneston had a couple of chances in the added minutes to extend their lead but first, his strike from the 6-yard box was brilliantly blocked by FCG keeper Hansel Coelho. A few minutes later, the forward was brilliantly fed by Pedro in the box but this time he could not beat FCG’s strong defence.
The Golden Eagles started the second session in a similar fashion as a short corner by Kirtikesh was brilliantly sent in the box by Serineo where Brian went for glory with a half volley from inside the box but his shot went over the rival’s frame.
FCG almost found the equalizer in the 70th minute when Jordan set up Mevan with a superb through pass who made no mistake to put the ball in the net. However, their joy was cut short by the assistant referee with the raised flag for offside.
At the other end, Dempo’s Beneston made a swift run on the flank on a couple of occasions but his teammates could not connect to his curlers from the inside box on both occasions. They once again came close in the added minutes as their substitute Necio Fernandes tried his luck from distance but his goalbound strike was acrobatically pushed for a corner by FC Goa keeper Hansel Coelho.
