Back to winning ways, the boys registered a three-goal victory against Youth club of Manora at Duler Stadium – Mapusa today evening! A brace from Edwin Viegas and a goal from Beevan Dmello were enough to earn the lads the three points.
The Eagles who were the designated away team for the evening this time around made one change to the side that started against Calangute Association a few days ago; Desmon Pereira replaced Shubham Malvankar with Alber Gonzalves’s slotting into the left-back position!
Starting the better of the two teams, it was the Eagle’s, who after an initial surge of pressure from the Home Team, had the lead in the early minutes of the first half, when Desmon Pereira was brought down just outside the box. Stepping up to deliver, it was Pedro Gonzalves’s freekick effort, that was met by Edwin Viegas a few meters from the Goal line, as the Centre Back nodded the ball into the net to give the boys a dream start to the game!
Not showing any signs of backing down, Manora had several chances minutes after the Eagle’s opener to equalize but were not able to find the net. Poor finishing and last-ditch tackling, the boys remained in the lead and continued to enjoy much of the possession.
As the game progressed, it was no surprise from where the next goal was to come, a pain in the Manora right wing throughout the game, It was no surprise when Desmon Pereira – who was in the thick of all things Dempo – found Uttam Rai with a beautiful flick outside the box, but as the number Twenty Four converted for the second goal of the evening, the linesman had already signalled for offside.
The boys finally had their second goal of the evening and this time there was no controversy as to whether it would stand or wouldn’t. Scoring in first-half extra time, it was non-other than Edwin Viegas, who’s header was the difference once again for the second time in the evening as the boys went into the break with a two goal lead.
Starting the second half with a substitution after the boys went down to 10 men, Uttam Rai was replaced with Ariston Costa, and Suraj Handkonkar was brought in for Richard Cardoz soon after to balance the side as the pressure began to tell.
Still able to create chances and even hit the post with the man disadvantage, the coach made one last tactical change for the evening when he got on Beevan DMello for Pedro Gonzalves in the dying embers of the game. The Captain who was forced to join in from the bench due to a minor injury, had the ball in the net soon after play resumed, confirming where the points were heading!
