golden eagles score two in second half to brush aside the challenge of port towners
the goan I network
DULER
Dempo Sports Club scored a convincing 2-0 win over Vasco Sports Club in a 12th round match of Goa Professional League, organised by GFA at Duler stadium, here
on Tuesday.
Dempo coach Samir Naik brought in two changes in his starting line-up -- Joaquim Abranches and Nestor Dias coming in -- after having won their last league match against Corps of Signals. At the other end, Vasco in-charge Eban Mesquita made one change by playing Beneston Barretto upfront, after his team had lost to Sporting Clue de Goa.
It was the Golden Eagles that had better of the exchanges in the match where they scored two goals in the second half of play through Joaquim Abranches and Suraj Hadkonkar. Dempo could have found the nets by scoring one of the quickest goals, scored under 50 seconds but referee Melroy D’Silva ruled out Beevan D’Mello’s header off a Nickson Castanha free kick as an offside.
Just four minute later, Naveen Mendes saw his header off Nickson Castanha’s free kick travel over the post. Two more chances went in vain for the Golden Eagles as Kapil Hobile shot wide from close while minutes later, Kapil saw his header hit the horizontal bar. In the closing stages of the first half, Vasco saw two attempts at the goal through Beneston Barretto. The first went out while the second was comfortably collected by Dempo keeper Agnelo Gomes.
On crossing ends, the Golden Eagles continued on their domination by coming with a series of attacks on the rival citadel. In the 58th minute, a fierce shot by Yogesh Kadam hit the far post which travelled to Beevan D’Mello, whose strike was pushed for a corner with a full-stretched diving save by Vasco keeper Amit Biswas.
Finally, the Golden Eagles tasted success in the 64th minute when Suraj Hadkonkar, who had come from the bench replacing Beevan, sent a neat through pass to Joaquim Abranhces, whose placement at the far corner had no answer from Vasco keeper Amit, 1-0. In the very next minute, Dempo should have doubled their lead but a power-packed right-footer from Suraj was blocked by the Vasco custodian.
At the other end, the Port Towners had a chance to find the equaliser when a shot at the goal by Schubert Pereira went just past the side post, with Dempo keeper beaten. While Vasco failed to score, in the very next minute, Suraj combined with Joaquim and, after covering some ground speeding past a host of rival defenders and the keeper, coolly placed the ball into the goal, 2-0.
Once again Vasco keeper Amit flung to his right to push a fierce shot by Suraj from just outside the penalty box for a corner. Vasco’s best chance to pull off a consolation goal went in vain in the 91st minute when Anil Gaonkar sent a neat cross to a well positioned Beneston Barretto, whose tap at the goal was blocked by Dempo keeper Agnelo.
PLAYING TODAY
Goan Football Club vs Sporting Clube de Goa, Duler Stadium, 4.30 pm
