Dempo Sports Club fall to their first defeat of the campaign at Duler Stadium, Mapusa today.
A stunning goal from Defender Darell Mascarenhas was not enough to shift the tide, as the Eagles fell short and lose 2-1 to rivals FC Goa
The Eagles who entered the game in second position on the table made three changes to the side that drew to Guardian Angels SC in the previous fixture, Ariston Alber & Shubham making way for the Injured Uttam, Gaurav & Desmon.
The game beginning with lot of hype, It was Fc Goa that started the game the better of the two teams, with the away side dominating much of the possession in the early twenty minutes of the fixture.
With a Yellow Card for Edwin Viegas, a shot off the bar, and a couple of close calls in the box for the Eagles, it was largely Vice-Captain Shallum Pires that kept the score line equal at the twenty-minute mark, his alertness saving the Eagles on several occasions.
Off to a slow start, it was Danstan Fernandes and Richard Cardoz that begun to get the home team into the game, winning the second balls and shifting them to the wing for Richard Cardoz, The Eagles were slowly stamping their authority on the game courtesy their Under -21’s. As the half progressed, Dempo continued to have good possession of the ball in promising area’s but the team was not able to test the Keeper and ended up paying the ultimate price on the counter when FC Goa found the net from close range.
Trailing to the solitary goal, the Eagles were well in the competition and could have had the chance to reply a minutes after conceding, the ball having dropped to Richard Cardoz’s feet after a long throw-in from Shallum Pires found the winger empty in the box, Richards shot, however, was high and wide as the Eagles entered the break trailing by a goal.
In the Second half, Dempo approached the game much the changed team, trailing the game and in need of a change, Suraj Hadkonkar replaced Alber Gonzalves in midfield as the Eagles looked to add fresh legs in the middle of the park. With Suraj having the skill to operate on both sides, the Eagles began to play with much more fluidity as chances began to open themselves for the boys.
Much against the tempo of the game, the Eagles found themselves another goal down but we’re quick to respond with a goal of their own, left-back Darell Mascarenhas finding the back of the net with a beautiful effort that sailed past the keeper and found the empty net.
As the Eagles looked to push for the equalizer, Samir Naik brought on Academy player Velanco Rodrigues for Ariston Costa who had put in an excellent defensive shift in midfield. Time running out for the Eagles, the home side continue to manufacture chances through the left-wing but Suraj Hadonkar’s industry with the crosses, were not matched by efforts from the box as the match came to an unfortunate end for the Eagles.
