Fatorda: This is Goa—divided by color, united by passion. Red and blue, two tribes, one city, one story that never grows old.
The state’s footballing heavyweights collide once more as Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers lock horns at the PJN Stadium in the I-League 2024-25. Bragging rights, pride, and crucial points are on the line in a derby that has defined Goan football for decades.
The Golden Eagles are riding high on confidence after an emphatic 8-1 demolition of SC Bengaluru. Trinidadian forward Marcus Joseph stole the show with a hat-trick, while Holicharan Narzary, Ignacio Mera, Damian, Hayden Hoble, and Lukman Adefemi all got their names on the scoresheet. SC Bengaluru’s Henry Kisseka managed to grab a consolation goal, but the contest was long settled in Dempo’s favor.
Dempo head coach Samir Naik reflected on his side’s form and growing belief. “The mood in the camp has always been good, but now the boys are even more confident. We had a few foreign players join us late, but now the team is gelling well. It’s a completely different side now, and we have plenty of options,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers arrive with momentum of their own after thrashing an eight-man Shillong Lajong 6-1. Sebastian Gutierrez led the charge with a hat-trick, while Matar Dieye and Cédric Lekay also found the net. An own goal from Shillong’s Ranit Sarkar compounded their misery, with Rudwere grabbing a late consolation for the visitors.
Looking ahead to the crucial derby, Naik acknowledged the challenge ahead. “We are ready, but this is a big test for us. It’s a crucial match for both clubs,” he said. The Dempo boss also confirmed a near-full squad at his disposal. “All our foreign players are fit, though we have two injuries. But we have solid replacements,” he added.
In the league standings, Churchill Brothers sit comfortably at the top with 34 points from 18 matches, while Dempo SC, currently ninth, have accumulated 22 points from the same number of games.
Naik also had a message for Dempo’s supporters, urging them to turn up in numbers. “We’ve seen great support at Raia, but we need the fans at Fatorda. Churchill fans will be there, and we don’t want this to feel like an away game. This is the real Goan Derby—it’s going to be massive,” he signed off.Match starts @ 4.30 p.m.
SC Bengaluru take home full points
Bengaluru: SC Bengaluru withstood a final half-hour barrage to win 3-2 against Real Kashmir FC at the Bangalore Football Stadium after defender Sanatomba Singh was sent off in the 60th minute. The two teams were tied 2-2 at half-time.
Thomya Shimray (5’) opened the scoring for the hosts, but Gnohere Krizo (12’ p, 32’) put Real Kashmir ahead with two goals. Shravan Shetty (36’) drew SC Bengaluru level before Faslurahman Methukayil (48’) scored the winner after the restart.
The win sees SC Bengaluru leapfrog Aizawl FC into 10th place with 20 points from 19 matches, and pushes them out of the relegation zone. Real Kashmir, meanwhile, stay third with 32 points from as many games.
The hosts surged to an early lead via a Thomyo Shimray goal in the fifth minute.
The winger snuck in between the two centre-backs to slam in the rebound from close range after Mohd Arbaz had made a save off the initial attempt.
SC Bengaluru’s joy and the lead didn’t last too long though. Within seven minutes Real Kashmir had equalised, when the referee pointed to the spot for a foul in the box. Gnohere Krizo duly put his spot kick away to draw Real Kashmir level.
Kashmir capitalised on the momentum gained from the equaliser and controlled a lot of the ball over the next quarter of the game. Just after the half-hour mark, they were duly rewarded for their efforts, when Krizo gathered the ball on the left of the box, turned in the same motion, freeing himself of his marker before curling a shot into the far corner.
The topsy-turvy nature of the encounter meant that this wasn’t going to last either. Within four minutes SC Bengaluru had equalised. Mohd Arbaz’s weak flap at the corner saw the ball drop to the Bengaluru player in the six-yard box, whose bicycle kick was cleared off the line. Shravan Shetty slammed in the rebound.
Within minutes of the restart Bengaluru retook the lead, another defensive error proving Kashmir’s undoing. Attempting to head a long ball back into his goalkeeper’s arms, Kashmir’s Hyder Yousuf instead only put it into the path of Faslurahman Methukayil. The forward nipped in front of Arbaz and despite the tight angle directed his first-time volley to the far corner of the net.
Just as it seemed that Bengaluru had found their footing in the game though, disaster struck. A high tackle by Sanatomba Singh, on Yousuf saw the referee issue him a straight red card, reducing the hosts to 10 men for the final half hour of the game. Almost immediately, Kashmir looked to have hit back, when Elhadji Karim Samb connected with a cross from the right, only to see his effort bounce off the upright.
Bengaluru adjusted their shape and their strategy, putting more bodies behind the ball and almost exclusively playing to defend their lead. Kashmir played their attacking part to perfection, albeit failing only to add a third to their tally. They threw the kitchen sink at the hosts but failed to get the crucial breakthrough, giving Bengaluru a vital win in their battle for survival.
