Dempo SC continued their impressive start to the I-League 2024-25 season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Namdhari FC on Tuesday. Serbian maestro Matija Babović once again showcased his class, scoring the decisive goal early in the second half to propel the Golden Eagles to the top of the table with seven points.
Coming off a commanding 2-0 victory against Shillong Lajong last week, Dempo demonstrated their ability to grind out results even under pressure, securing their third consecutive clean sheet. Namdhari FC, despite showing resilience, remain winless in the campaign.
The Golden Eagles started the game on the front foot. Their intent was evident right from the fourth minute when a perfectly delivered free-kick by Damián Pérez found an unmarked Seigoumang Doungel in the box, only for the latter to mistime his effort. Pérez, pulling the strings in midfield, came close himself with two long-range efforts that narrowly missed the target.
Namdhari FC, however, were not content to sit back. After weathering the early Dempo onslaught, they found their own rhythm and began to test the visitors’ defence. Ghanaian midfielder Joseph Gordon nearly caught Dempo’s goalkeeper Ashish Sibi off-guard with a curling free-kick, but Sibi recovered brilliantly to keep the game level.
The hosts continued to press, with Francis Addo proving to be a handful. Returning from suspension, Addo nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful strike that was expertly blocked by Dempo captain Mohamed Ali, who epitomised leadership and defensive solidity throughout the game. Addo’s audacious acrobatic volley just before halftime was another moment of brilliance, but Sibi was once again alert to deny him.
The second half began with Dempo picking up where they left off, displaying urgency and precision. It didn’t take long for the breakthrough to come. In the 47th minute, Knerkitalang Buam produced a moment of magic, sending a perfectly weighted long ball behind Namdhari’s high backline. Babović, showing his trademark composure, latched onto the pass and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper Nishan Singh.
Dempo continued to push for a second, with Babović coming close again just minutes later, heading a pinpoint cross from Mohamed Ali narrowly over the bar. Namdhari, determined to fight back, created their best chance of the match when Cledson Carvalho da Silva dispossessed Ali and raced into the box, only to see his low drive miss the far post by mere inches.
From there on, it was a display of defensive organisation and tactical discipline by Dempo. The Brazilian duo of Cledson and Vicente de Paula Mercedes, who came off the bench for Namdhari, posed questions, but the Golden Eagles held firm. Captain Mohamed Ali, alongside his defensive partners, ensured that their opponents were kept at bay, while coach Samir Naik’s timely substitutions added fresh legs to see out the game.
