Dempo Sports Club, Goa scored once in each half to bury local outfit Mahindra United 2-0 in their opening league match of the eighth National Football League at the Cooperage, Mumbai on Sunday.
Dempo medio Sameer Naik opened the account for the visitors with 30-year left footer to put his team ahead in the 27th minute while another mid-fielder Clifford Miranda rounded off the tally in the very first minute of the injury time off substitute R C Prakash pass in the fag end of the game.
Mahindra defence proved ineffective against the Goan outfits' onslaught though the home team made a few good moves but failed to finish them.
In the 22nd minute, Mahindra Striker Raphael Patron Akakpo missed from close range. Three minutes later Mahindra winger Felix Aboagye shot over with just Dempo custodian Abhijit Mondal to beat.
Ten minutes after the visitors took the lead, Mahindra mid-fielder Jules Dias Alberto shot wide in front of an open goal.
With just a couple of minutes to go for half time Dempo winger Isfaq Ahmed's try off Samir Naik centre was well saved by Mahindra goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey.
In the 59th minute Mahindra skipper Khalid Jamil got two good opportunities to score but missed both. First Jamil's try off substitute Rauf Khan was well saved by Mondal. Soon after Jamil shot over from close range with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In the 74th minute, Dempo's R C Prakash almost made it 2-0 when his try was not collected well by Chaubey. However, their forward Sunday Seah's lob in front of an open goal was off target.
In the 80th minute the hosts almost got the equaliser but Mondal came up with an outstanding save to thwart Mahindra's Patron Akakpo from scoring off substitute Rauf Khan pass.
When Miranda scored during the injury time it was all over for the hosts who came up with a lackluster performance.
Mahindra will take on Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in their next match at the Cooperage on December four.
© 2024 Rediff.com -