OLD GOA: Dempo Sports Club rounded off their campaign in the Second Division I-League on a winning note with a solitary goal success against Hyderabad FC Reserves at Dempo football academy ground, Ela here on Thursday evening.
Second-half substitute Saiesh Bagkar scored the all-important goal in the 85th minute to take Dempo’s points tally to 14 from eight matches. The Golden Eagles finished three points behind ARA FC and Ambernath United, both of whom were tied on 17 points apiece. Only top teams of each group and four best second-placed teams advance to the final qualifying round.
Dempo created at least five clear-cut openings, but their finishing lacked the necessary precision. The Golden Eagles forward Beneston Barretto was through on goal in the first minute itself and brought out a reflex save from Hyderabad reserves goalkeeper Manas Dubey. Few minutes later, a similar approach play and attempt saw Manas thwart the livewire Beneston once again.
Hyderabad FC reserves came close to scoring from set pieces, when Cris Sherpa saw his measured freekick from the top of the box, miss the left post by a whisker; before Soyal Joshi’s powerful drive was palmed over the crossbar by Dempo goalie Dylan da Silva.
While Dempo were taking the initiative to attack, their rivals were seen to be content on counters.
Missing some of their regulars, Dempo coach Samir Naik started with Kirtikesh Gadekar in the central midfield and gave a starting opportunity to defender Kuldeep Kumar, who did well to initiate the attack deep in the second half. He found Beneston on the right side near the rival penalty area, with his perfectly-weighted pass before the speedy Dempo striker dribbled past couple of rival defenders and set up an onrushing Saiesh, who finished with a powerful volley evading the diving goalie Manas in Hyderabad goal.
Dempo could have doubled the score at the fag end but substitute Pedro Gonsalves’ strike was parried away by the Hyderabad custodian.
Dempo coach Samir Naik was optimistic about the improvement that needs to come into the team to achieve the target of qualifying for the I-League next year; while he praised the boys for putting in wholehearted efforts. “In the end, I feel a bit of inexperience hurt us. But, there is no doubt that our team has a lot of potential,” summed up Samir.
