MARGAO: Five-time National champions Dempo Sports Club returned back in the Hero I-League 2016-17 by emerging as the undisputed champion of the 2nd Division I-League 2015-16 defeating Minerva Academy FC 3-1 in the final league match at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
A brace by Milagres Gonsalves and a goal by Felix Chidi gave Dempo SC the much needed three points to finish at the top of the table with 23 points after 10 matches while Minerva Academy FC finished at 18 points with equal number of games.
Dempo SC started all guns blazing in front of the top brass of the club’s management and they needed only nine minutes to get their nose in front when Milagres headed a long ball unleashed by Mandar Rao Desai from the top of the box. Four, minutes later, Felix doubled the lead following a scintillating solo run, leaving the opponent defenders aghast.
Following the back-to-back strikes by Dempo SC, Minerva Academy FC players were left completely clueless and in the 15th minute, they made their first positive attack from the left flank. Three minutes later, Mandar sneaked past Kamalpreet Singh from the left flank but his over-ambitious effort went abegging.
Manvir Singh and Sajandeep Singh tried their best to penetrate the Dempo SC defence but the tame effort from the top of the box was easily collected by Laxmikant Kattimani.
Just after the half-hour mark, Felix ran past Amandeep Singh and released a loopy ball, which was converted by Milagres with much ease to send the Dempo SC dugout in a delirium.
Dempo SC, who were enjoying the lion’s share of ball possession, were very close to scoring their fourth goal at the stroke of the first half but Mandar’s grounded shot missed the net by a whisker.
On the resumption, Surinder Singh introduced Nitesh Chhikara at the expense of Kamalpreet Singh to shape up the defence. Nitesh combined well with Sehijpal Singh from the right but his long ball was snatched by the safe hands of Kattimani.
With time waning, Dempo SC pressed hard to maintain the lead. Surinder left no stone unturned to make a dramatic come back into the match. Krishna Pandit and Dilliram Sanyasi were deployed to instill more vigour in the attacking third but they could hardly leave any impression today.
Manvir came very close to opening the goal mouth for the visitors in the 76th minute but his powerful header sailed wide of the woodwork. Two minutes later, Simranjeet Singh hammered it from 25-yards but it missed the target by a few yards.
With eight minutes to the final whistle, Felix almost completed his brace but Arshdeep Singh threw himself to thwart the Nigerian from increasing the gap further. In the 86th minute, Minerva Academy FC had their share of joy when Amandeep found the back of the net from the top of the box, thanks to a heavy deflection by Shallum Pires.
“I am delighted with the team’s comeback in the I-League after being relegated last year. We won the title five times and it’s a proud moment for us, especially at a time when our club has completed 50 years,” said Dempo Sports Club patron Srinivas Dempo.
