Staff Reporter
Fatorda
Dempo SC endured a humbling evening at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda, as Rajasthan FC handed them a crushing 4-0 defeat in their I-League 2024-25 on Saturday. The visitors looked far more composed and clinical, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches, while Dempo were left searching for answers after a lackluster display.
The Golden Eagles, buoyed by a win in their previous outing, had hoped to build momentum, but from the outset, they struggled to match Rajasthan’s intensity. Samir Naik’s men lacked cohesion in attack and were repeatedly undone by defensive lapses, allowing the visitors to take full control.
Dempo managed to hold Rajasthan at bay for most of the first half, but their resistance was broken just before the break. A precise left-wing cross from Spanish midfielder Alain Oyarzun caught the Dempo backline napping. Ronaldo Johnson’s clever dummy allowed Spanish striker Gerard Artigas to strike from close range, with goalkeeper Ashish Sibi getting a hand but failing to keep it out. The second half saw Rajasthan FC tighten their grip. A chaotic goalmouth scramble in the 51st minute saw Dempo fail to clear their lines, and Uruguayan substitute Lucas Rodriguez Cabral capitalized to double the lead. Any hopes of a fightback were extinguished in the 61st minute when a long ball over the top caused panic in the Dempo defence. Mohamed Ali misjudged the bounce, allowing Naoba Meetei to sneak through and slot home a third for Rajasthan.
The final blow came in the 86th minute when Oyarzun, who had been pulling the strings all night, put the game beyond doubt. The Rajasthan captain unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike from distance, sealing a dominant victory for the visitors.
With this defeat, Dempo remain in eighth place with 14 points from 12 matches, missing a chance to climb up the standings. Rajasthan FC, meanwhile, continue their resurgence, sitting fourth with 19 points, level with third-placed Gokulam Kerala FC.
