Lairinzuala opener, Kasimov penalty sink Golden Eagles 2-0
Manjer: Dempo SC were left to rue fine margins, contentious calls and a slice of misfortune as they went down 2-0 to Gokulam Kerala FC in their fourth I-League 2025-26 fixture on Friday.
The contest began cautiously, with both sides probing for rhythm, but it was Gokulam who struck first against the run of play. A deflected effort looped off goalkeeper Ashish Sibi and trickled in, handing the hosts an early advantage that belied the balance of play.
Dempo responded with intent. Marcus Joseph tested the goalkeeper from a free-kick, while Sibi produced a sharp save at the other end to keep his side in the contest. The Goan side grew into the game, with Sebastian Gutierrez threading a precise ball through to Joseph, who was denied in a one-on-one. Moments later, Joseph thought he had equalised, only for the effort to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
Trailing at the break, Dempo returned with renewed purpose. They dominated possession after the restart, pinning Gokulam back and creating openings, with Gutierrez going narrowly over early in the half.
The turning point seemed to arrive when Gokulam were awarded a penalty, but Sibi rose to the occasion
with a superb save, keeping Dempo’s hopes alive. However, just as the Golden Eagles looked to force their way back, another late penalty decision tilted the balance. This time, Gokulam made no mistake from the spot to seal the result.
Dempo pushed until the end, with Laximanrao Rane delivering a teasing cross deep into stoppage time that was brilliantly dealt with by the Gokulam goalkeeper, summing up a frustrating evening for Dempo SC. In the next Fixture, Dempo SC willz face Sreenidi Deccan FC on March 25 at the Deccan Arena.
