Do Dempo Sports Club have a team to qualify for the I-League immediately? On the showings so far in the Second Division I-League, the Golden Eagles have looked good on the ball and also executed their tactics well. The former national champions on an unprecedented five occasions, beat Ambernath United FC 2-1 on Sunday, a result that will certainly boost the talk around I-League qualification for India’s most successful football club. Despite the victory, one could see a lot of scope for improvement, none more than in the conversion rate of goal-scoring chances.
Nevertheless, Dempo are building up to give it their all in the pursuit of the top league qualification. After today’s victory, they moved up level on points with leaders ARA Football Club on eight points after four matches. Coach Samir Naik had a smile on his face after the final whistle as he spoke to www.livenewsgoa.com
“We have a team with potential, we should not miss this chance to go in the I-League. We will get better as the tournament goes on,” said Samir, the former India international and Ex-Dempo defender.
Playing their third match inside five days, Dempo pulled off a tremendous fightback as they scored twice in the second half via captain Shallum Pires and Necio Fernandes after they had fallen behind in the first half through a fine free-kick by Ambernath United’s Ashley Koli.
Dempo SC had started well at Dempo football academy ground at Ela-Old Goa and were dominating the ball possession as well as moving the ball well. But they failed to test the rival keeper Yasheel Shah. The first chance for the home team came in the 15th minute when Necio had the goal in sight but could not keep his shot on target from inside the 18-yard-box. A couple of minutes later, Ambernath scored against the run of play after defender Mohamed Ali was penalised for a foul and in the resultant freekick from 22 yards, Ashley curled his effort beyond the wall to penetrate Dempo citadel as goalie Dylan da Silva was beaten for the first time in the Second Division I-league campaign.
A stunned Dempo side continued to work hard but were falling short of ideas in the final third. Not making the early passes, was one of their shortcomings but on one occasion, midfielder Gourav Kankonkar could have made the most of an aerial ball at the top of the penalty area, but his first touch trying to chest the ball down, did not come off and Ambernath United defenders cleared the danger.
Minutes into the second half, Ambernath United wasted a simple chance to increase their lead as Arif Shaikh got into a bit of tangle in the six-yard box and ran too close to Dempo goalie Dylan, who was quick to grab the ball.
Dempo kept hunting for the equaliser, switching the attack from flank to flank as substitute Vieri Colaco injected pace into the buildup. Defender Shallum Pires took up advanced positions as generally the Dempo defenceline moved higher. And on one of the attacks that resulted in a corner-kick, the Golden Eagles logged in the equaliser in the 51st minute. Necio floated the ball from right and it dipped perfectly for Shallum to strike a first-time volley that totally beat Ambernath United goalkeeper Yasheel Shah.
Dempo seemed to have a spring in their step as they upped the ante with relentless attacks in search of the winner. Necio opened his scoring account in the league with a looping header from close range after Ambernath United custodian could not latch on the industrious forward Beneston Barretto’s powerful shot from an acute angle at the hour mark, and Dempo took 2-1 lead.
Ambernath United chased the game with all their endeavour, but failed to score as first from a great position in the box – Bersal Viegas shot straight at rival keeper Dylan; and then off a freekick by Aaron DCosta, captain Nishant Shetty’s header missed the target with minutes to go for the final whistle.
