The result today evening was not what Dempo Sports Club had come for but what they leave with is precisely what this season demanded. A 1-2 defeat to Rajasthan United FC could not overshadow the bigger picture – that of Dempo securing their place in the Championship Round of the Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26, sixth in the Stage 1 standings with nine points, finishing above Aizawl FC because of better head to head record.
Shillong Lajong FC defeated Aizawl FC 6-1 on Saturday, to secure a top-half spot and this result went on to favour Dempo.
Over at Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, it was a bittersweet evening that started with head coach Samir Naik making one change to his starting lineup with Ariston Costa coming in for Darell Mascarenhas. The breakthrough came in the twenty-second minute a sharp pass from Kapil Hoble into the box was flicked on cleverly by Nestor Dias and Marcus Joseph was there to finish, giving Dempo the lead.
The first half was largely a midfield contest, Rajasthan United showed glimpses of their quality as the half wore on but could not find a way through a disciplined Dempo defensive shape. The Golden Eagles went into the break a goal to the good.
The second half told a different story. Just sixty seconds after the restart, a defensive error handed Rajasthan United their lifeline, Gerard Artigas pouncing to level at 1-1 in the forty-sixth minute. Dempo had barely had time to regroup when the visitors struck again. In the fifty-seventh minute a brilliant delivery from Thomyo Shimray left Ashish Sibi with no chance and Rajasthan United were in front.
Dempo pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages. Richmond Owusu had a tight chance but was denied by a sharp save from James Kithan. Later Sebastian Gutierrez met a delivery with a header from close range only for Kithan to produce another crucial stop and keep Rajasthan’s lead intact.
From ninth place and winless to the Championship Round, back-to-back 3-0 victories over Shillong Lajong FC and Aizawl FC followed by a battling display against one of the league’s strongest sides on the final day. The Golden Eagles finish Stage 1 with nine points and secure their place in the Championship Round.
