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Defending champions Dempo SC kick-started their challenge in the All-India AWES Cup with a hard-fought solitary goal victory over FC Goa reserves in the opening match at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco on Tuesday.
After a barren first session, experienced striker Beevan D’Mello struck the all-important goal in the 82nd minute as Dempo SC collected full points from the Group A battle. The group also has FC Pune City and Salgaocar FC, both of whom will lock horns on Wednesday.
The tournament, organised by the Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), has eight teams vying for the top prize and Dempo SC made their intentions known right at the start when they took the battle to the opposition.
Beevan D’Mello was the first to have a look at the rival goal as his snap shot in the 12th minute missed the target by a whisker.
For FC Goa, Kapil Hoble, formerly with Dempo SC, was troubling the rival defence and could have opened his team’s account midway into the first session but his attempt only struck the side-netting. Hoble then missed a golden opportunity in the 38th minute when Imran Khan picked him out inside the danger zone but Hoble could not believe his luck as the ball sailed wide of an unmarked goal.
In the second session, chances were few and far between for both teams, although Dempo SC came close twice in the 51st and 53rd minute. At first Vineet Budge’s header off Suraj Hadkonkar’s cross went just over the crossbar and later Latesh Mandrekar went close from inside the box.
Dempo SC finally broke the deadlock with eight minutes left for the final whistle. Substitute Yogesh Kadam set up Jessel Carneiro on the left wing and the last named crossed inside the box. The low cross was finished with a curler by Beevan that sailed past FC Goa goalkeeper Shubham Das.
Tomorrow’s match: Salgaocar FC – FC Pune City, 4pm at Tilak Maidan – Vasco
