Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Dempo SC registered a narrow 4-3 win over Panjim footballers in an exhilarating match of the Goa professional league played at Duler stadium, on Tuesday.
Dempo were leading 2-1 at the breather with goals coming from Beevan D`Mello, Alber Gonsalves (2) and Suraj Hadkonkar while Panjim Footballers who put up a brave fight got the goals scored by Krishna Gawas, Chandan and Lloyd.
Dempo opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Beevan D`Mello received a ball on the edge of the box, positioned himself and let go a vicious left footed shot which crashed into the net with keeper Preston Rego being a mere spectator to give his side the lead.
Down by a goal, Panjim responded strongly and had two decent chances of getting back on terms but were let down by some poor striking from Lloyd Cardozo which did not cause much trouble to Dempo keeper Luis Barreto.
Panjim finally managed to make it 1-1 in the 32nd minute when Chandan`s fierce left footed strike was palmed by keeper Luis and the ball rolled to Krishna Gawas who without wasting any time tapped the ball into the empty net to make it 1-1.
Dempo regained their one goal advantage in the 38th minute when Nickson Castanha whipped in a dangerous cross into the box which found Alber Gonsalves who calmly headed the ball into the goal to make it 2-1.
Changing ends, both teams continued from where they left attacking each other’s citadel time and again and it did not take long for Panjim to once again get back on terms when Chandan finishing touches to an incisive pass by Krishna to make it 2-2.
In the 63rd minute, Panjim were unlucky not to be ahead when Lokeshkumar Talwar`s though pass found Krishna whose measured placement shot hit the post and was quickly cleared by the Dempo defense before anyone could pounce onto the loose ball.
Needing a win, Dempo head coach Samir Naik made a double change introducing Pedro Gonsalves and Suraj Hadkonkar to bolster the attack and were nearly rewarded when Beevan`s perfect cross found Pedro who surprisingly headed wide with an open goal gapping in front of him.
Dempo`s Suraj Hadkonkar scored an absolute scorching free-kick which had no answer by the Panjim keeper to make it 3-2 in the 69th minute after Beevan was fouled just outside the box.
However, their joy was short-lived as Panjim refused to accept defeat and got the equaliser through Lloyd who’s curling right footed shot nestled into the net to make it 3-3.
Pedro once again squandered an easy sitter for Dempo in the 75th minute when he failed to keep his shot goal wards from close range.
Just when it looked both teams would be splitting points Dempo scored the fourth goal in the 88th minute when Suraj floated a free-kick into the box where Shallum Pires headed the ball to Alber who slammed the ball into the goal to make it 4-3.
There was still time for Panjim to steal a point from Dempo but Joyson Gauncar’s shot struck the bottom right of the post in added time.
