I-League: Dempo beats Delhi FC, Gokulam overpowers SC Bengaluru
Dempo SC and Gokulam Kerala took three points from today's I-League fixtures.
![I-League: Dempo beats Delhi FC, Gokulam overpowers SC Bengaluru I-League: Dempo beats Delhi FC, Gokulam overpowers SC Bengaluru](https://thebridge.in/h-upload/2025/01/29/1500x900_59977-untitled-design-4.webp)
Dempo SC ended their five-game winless streak in the I-League 2023-24 on January 29, with a late Nestor Dias goal sealing a 1-0 victory over Delhi FC, who remain winless in as many matches.
Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala cruised past SC Bengaluru 2-0, with Ignacio de Loyola Abeledo scoring both goals to propel his side to third in the standings.
Dempo deepens Delhi despair
Substitute Nestor Dias emerged as the hero for Dempo Sports Club as he scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute to help his side clinch a 1-0 victory over Delhi FC.
This win snapped a five-game winless streak for Dempo and allowed them to climb to seventh place in the standings. The five-time champions now have 14 points from 11 games with four wins, two draws and five losses.
Delhi FC, on the other hand, continued their struggle, extending their winless run to five games and languishing at 11th place with just nine points from 11 matches.
The match was set against the backdrop of both teams desperate to ascend the league table, having faced recent difficulties. Dempo, under the guidance of former India international Samir Naik, exhibited a more dynamic approach, characterised by rapid passing and making full use of the pitch’s width.
Delhi FC adopted a more defensive posture, aiming to absorb pressure and exploit any errors made by their opponents.
The first half saw both teams creating chances but failing to capitalise due to poor finishing. Dempo’s most promising moment came early on when Pruthvesh Pednekar delivered a sharp cross from the right to Knerkitalang Buam, who, despite outpacing his defender, could not muster a powerful connection, allowing Delhi goalkeeper Lalmuansanga to make an easy save.
As the match progressed into the second half, the pattern continued with Buam missing another golden opportunity. His tepid shot was effortlessly parried away by Lalmuansanga, and even the follow-up attempt by Vieri Colaco was safely collected by the Delhi keeper.
On the other side, Delhi FC forwards, who are usually reliable in their scoring prowess as they netted in eight of their 10 matches, experienced an off day. They lacked the usual sharpness needed to break down the resilient Dempo defence and failed to pose any significant threat.
The breakthrough finally came in the latter stages of the game when Kapil Hoble’s determined run down the right flank culminated in a precise cross to the far post. Nestor Dias, with perfect timing, met the cross with a superb first touch and found himself unmarked. With ample space, he coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, scoring his first goal of the season and securing a much-needed win for Dempo on home turf.
Gokulam ease past SC Bengaluru
Gokulam Kerala FC notched their second home win of the season with a comfortable 2-0 victory SC Bengaluru, Ignacio de Loyola Abeledo scored both the goals in the eighth and 90th minutes.
The result propelled Gokulam Kerala to third in the table with 19 points from 11 matches, two behind leaders Namdhari FC, albeit having played one more than Churchill Brothers in second. SC Bengaluru meanwhile stay rooted to the bottom of the table, and will have to produce a sharp turn to salvage their season.
Gokulam put their burners on right from the start, battering at an SC Bengaluru side that had just added last year’s top scorer Alex Sanchez to their ranks. In the 7th minute, Gokulam had their first chance, Suhair Vadakkepeedika coming in from the right of the box and unleashing a fierce low drive towards the near post. Yuya Kuriyama parried the shot away, but the rebound fell to Ignacio de Loyola Abeledo. The Spaniard’s first time attempt was cleared off the line.
Bengaluru had barely exhaled the fumes of their relief at seeing that chance go begging, when Gokulam scored the opener. Some brilliant close passing link up play between Martin Chaves and Vadakkepeedika saw the latter lay the ball into Abeledo’s path inside the box. The Spaniard’s low shot towards the right corner was inch perfect. Kuriyama’s dive was in vain.
Gokulam showed no signs of slowing down, and were keen to add to their tally. Kuriyama was constantly called into action and made a memorable save from point blank range off a corner. The visitors were living off scraps and did not really test Shibinraj Kunniyil at all in the first period, Salam Johnson Singh their own real chance wide.
Despite taking their foot off the pedal a bit in the second half, Gokulam did just enough to keep Bengaluru at bay, thwarting their attacks as well as controlling the pace and direction of the game itself. Despite the narrow lead they seldom looked likely to concede a goal and throw the points away.
Abeledo scored a second in the final minute of the game, running on to a cleared ball to launch a one-man counter attack. He took the ball to the left, forcing Kuriyama off his line and despite the tighter angle finished brilliantly into the far corner to ensure his side’s victory.
Perhaps the only blemish from their game came in the sixth minute of injury time, when Salam Ranjan Singh picked up a second yellow card for a needless foul, to be sent off.
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