IFL: Dempo drop points in opener against Kashmir

Margao: Dempo Sports Club left the field with a bittersweet feeling on Sunday.

Playing their Indian Football League (IFL) opener against Real Kashmir FC at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Dempo should have picked up all three points, but poor finishing meant they had to settle for a point after a fortune-fluctuating 2-2 result.

The dropped points at home, particularly in a truncated league, would be of concern. Dempo, though, will be encouraged with their performance, particularly against a tricky and sturdy side. In just the opening match, the former five-time national league champions would have known they can be counted among the leading teams in the competition.




Dempo went behind in first half added time when Kashmir captain Mohammad Inam scored a stunner, only for Marcus Joseph to equalize with a penalty. In the second half, Aubin Kouakou provided the hosts with the lead, but Shedrack Charles capitalised on a defensive lapse to draw the opponents level within a minute.

All eyes were on Dempo’s foreign choices. Aubin and Sebastian Gutierrez, both key to Churchill Brothers last season, drove the team forward, while the tried-and-tested Marcus Joseph started upfront, alongside Richmond Owusu. The Ghanaian striker provided a strong aerial presence, even won a penalty, but playing for a club that aims to win the league, should have been a lot sharper with his finishing.

Had Gutierrez been fitter – not surprising since he joined quite late -- the result might have been different. Two of his attempts from just outside the box lacked power and precision.

Kashmir, to be fair, weren’t satisfied with a point either and kept pushing till the end.

Coached by Ishfaq Ahmed, who won the I-League title with Dempo as player, Kashmir showed promise. It were the visitors who struck first, thanks to a superb strike from Inam, who collected a pass from Charles, moved inside the box and curled it towards the top corner for a goal of high quality.

Dempo’s response was swift. It was Richmond who won a penalty after he was brought down by goalkeeper Sayad Kadir. Joseph did well to calmly slot the penalty into the goal.

Both goals were scored in first half added time. Seven minutes were played as the match had to be halted midway after Ariston Costa fell to the ground, elbowed by Sanatomba Singh in an off-the-ball-inside, and struggled to sit up. The ambulance had to be called but thankfully the Dempo captain was treated on the ground itself and did not need a visit to the hospital.

In the second half, Dempo took the lead just after the half an hour mark as Gutierrez sent a superbly flighted freekick that Aubin did well to head home past a crowded defence.

The advantage was remarkably short-lived as Kashmir hit back just a minute later. A quick counterattack combined with Aubin’s failure to clear the ball allowed Charles to pounce and produce a clinical finish to tie the game 2-2.