They fall 0-2 to Real Kashmir FC in their away game in Srinagar
Panaji: Dempo SC suffered a 0-2 defeat against Real Kashmir FC in the I-League 2024-25 at the TRC Football Turf on Sunday. The result saw Dempo’s winless streak extend to five matches, leaving the Goan side stuck in eighth place with 11 points from 10 games, as their early-season momentum has faded.
Despite the scoreline, Dempo showed flashes of promise, particularly in the first half, where they created the game’s first big opportunity. In the 30th minute, Shaher Shaheen’s incisive pass found Seigoumang Doungel, whose thunderous left-footed strike rattled the crossbar. The near-miss epitomized Dempo’s attacking woes, as they have managed just one goal in their last five outings.
Real Kashmir, backed by an unbeaten home record this season, took control in the second half. Lalramsanga broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute after Dempo’s defence failed to clear their lines, leaving the midfielder to unleash a stunning long-range strike that goalkeeper Ashish Sibi had no answer for.
Dempo tried to respond with urgency, and Knerkitalang Buam came agonizingly close to an equalizer with a powerful shot that once again struck the crossbar, echoing Doungel’s earlier misfortune.
However, Real Kashmir’s clinical edge proved decisive. In the 58th minute, Paulo Cezar’s precise cross found Abdou Karim Samb, who rose unmarked to head home the second goal for the hosts.
Dempo had a golden opportunity to claw their way back into the game, but lapses in the final third continued to haunt them. In the 66th minute, Real Kashmir gifted Samb a chance after a defensive misstep, but the forward’s effort went wide, offering a reprieve for Dempo’s defence. At fulltime the score was 2-0 in favor of Real Kashmir.