Team Herald
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PANJIM: Dempo Sports Club will take on Rajasthan United FC in their ninth I-League fixture of the 2024-25 season at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium, Jaipur, on Sunday, at 3.30 pm.
After a narrow 0-1 defeat to Gokulam Kerala FC in their last outing, the Golden Eagles are determined to bounce back stronger. Despite putting in a valiant effort at home, Abhijith Kurungodan’s late strike in the 86th minute secured the win for Kerala, leaving Dempo SC eager to make amends on the road.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan United FC head into this match after a dramatic 1-1 draw against 10-man Delhi FC. James Singh’s red card gave Rajasthan the upper hand, with Alan Oyarzun converting a penalty in the 70th minute to put them ahead. However, Delhi’s resilience saw Okwa equalise late in the 83rd minute, forcing Rajasthan to settle for a point.
As it stands, Dempo SC sits in seventh place on the I-League table with 10 points from eight matches, while Rajasthan United is just one spot above in sixth with 11 points.
Head Coach Samir Naik remains optimistic and motivated despite the recent setbacks, sharing his thoughts ahead of the game, “The thing is that, unfortunately, we’ve lost both our home games. We played well, but conceding in the final moments hurt us. However, we’ve worked on certain aspects, and the team is well-prepared for this match. In fact, we’ve been performing better in away games. We’ve lost three home games in Goa, but the preparation for this one has been good, and the boys are ready,” he stated.
Coach Samir also praised the team’s spirit, “The atmosphere in the team is always positive. Whether I was a player or now as a coach, the environment has always been great. The boys are happy and motivated, even though the recent loss affected us momentarily. But we’ve regrouped, and the focus is now on giving our best in this upcoming game,” he signed off.
