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Dempo SC 0-1 Pune FC – Arata Izumi's strike gives Derrick Pereira's side full points in Goa
The Goan side miss out on an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table as Pune FC get back to winning ways...
By Anselm Noronha
Goal.com
Pune Football Club defeated Dempo Sports Club 1-0 in the 19th round of the I-League played at the PJN stadium in Goa, on Sunday.
A first half strike from Arata Izumi was the difference between the two sides as Pune FC picked up their third away win of the season.
Mauricio Afonso led Dempo in the absence of a recuperating Armando Colaco and fielded an attacking line-up comprising of Ranti Martins and Koko Sakibo with Densill Theobald playing behind the front pair. Pune FC had Mandjou Keita upfront with Douhou Pierre playing in the hole behind the striker.
Dempo had the first chance in the fourth minute, but Ranti Martins fired in a free-kick from 20 yards or so right into the wall before the Nigerian forced Pune FC's keeper to make the first save of the match in the 10th minute.
Derrick Pereira's men had a good evening in the defense as Caitano Costa and Anas Edathodika played well as a partnership before Dempo conceded a goal against the run of play in the 19th minute.
Arata Izumi found himself completely unmarked on the left far post and calmly took his opportunity to head in the opener, as he met an inswinging Baldeep Singh cross from the right wing.
Around the half hour mark, Dempo's Densill Theobald was clearly brought down outside the opponents box by Caitano Costa, but the referee waved off protests from the home side and refused to give a freekick.
The 35th minute saw PFC goalie Amrinder Singh pulled off an amazing reflex save - diving low to his right - to deny Ranti Martins from close range, after the Dempo striker was played in by team-mate Koko Sakibo.
After the change of ends, the trailing side tried to get back in the game with an early attack, but Climax Lawrence's attempted pass to Ranti Martins was well read by Amrinder who was then relieved to see Theobald's free kick go wide in another Dempo chance.
Dempo's Joaquim Abranches only had himself to blame when he missed a sitter from Samir Naik's delivery into the box, just minutes after the Goan striker was joined the game in place of Koko Sakibo, and had another shot blocked by Amrinder in the 72nd minute.
As the hosts pressed to find the elusive equaliser, Martins was also denied by the PFC custodian after being played in by substitute Peter Carvalho and then shot wide on another occasion before himself being replaced in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, Pune FC tried to ensure they took home the three points as they searched for a goal to extend their lead, but a combined effort of Keita and substitute Paresh Shivalkar saw the latter's shot go wide in the 83rd minute.
Dempo substitute Joy Ferrao could have proven to be the hero for his side, but the player who came in place of Martins sent his shot despairingly wide after being played in by Theobald in the late minutes of the match.
With this win, Pune FC are now closing in on the top five spots with 31 points from 19 matches, wheareas the former champions Dempo SC were forced to be content with a five points lead over East Bengal.
A first half strike from Arata Izumi was the difference between the two sides as Pune FC picked up their third away win of the season.
Mauricio Afonso led Dempo in the absence of a recuperating Armando Colaco and fielded an attacking line-up comprising of Ranti Martins and Koko Sakibo with Densill Theobald playing behind the front pair. Pune FC had Mandjou Keita upfront with Douhou Pierre playing in the hole behind the striker.
Dempo had the first chance in the fourth minute, but Ranti Martins fired in a free-kick from 20 yards or so right into the wall before the Nigerian forced Pune FC's keeper to make the first save of the match in the 10th minute.
Derrick Pereira's men had a good evening in the defense as Caitano Costa and Anas Edathodika played well as a partnership before Dempo conceded a goal against the run of play in the 19th minute.
Arata Izumi found himself completely unmarked on the left far post and calmly took his opportunity to head in the opener, as he met an inswinging Baldeep Singh cross from the right wing.
Mandjou Keita then, was en-route towards goal when he was tripped by Samir Naik in the 28th minute. The Pune FC striker got back on his feet but only managed to shoot wide and above an advancing Dempo keeper Subashish Roychowdhury.
Around the half hour mark, Dempo's Densill Theobald was clearly brought down outside the opponents box by Caitano Costa, but the referee waved off protests from the home side and refused to give a freekick.
The 35th minute saw PFC goalie Amrinder Singh pulled off an amazing reflex save - diving low to his right - to deny Ranti Martins from close range, after the Dempo striker was played in by team-mate Koko Sakibo.
After the change of ends, the trailing side tried to get back in the game with an early attack, but Climax Lawrence's attempted pass to Ranti Martins was well read by Amrinder who was then relieved to see Theobald's free kick go wide in another Dempo chance.
Dempo's Joaquim Abranches only had himself to blame when he missed a sitter from Samir Naik's delivery into the box, just minutes after the Goan striker was joined the game in place of Koko Sakibo, and had another shot blocked by Amrinder in the 72nd minute.
As the hosts pressed to find the elusive equaliser, Martins was also denied by the PFC custodian after being played in by substitute Peter Carvalho and then shot wide on another occasion before himself being replaced in the 81st minute.
Meanwhile, Pune FC tried to ensure they took home the three points as they searched for a goal to extend their lead, but a combined effort of Keita and substitute Paresh Shivalkar saw the latter's shot go wide in the 83rd minute.
Dempo substitute Joy Ferrao could have proven to be the hero for his side, but the player who came in place of Martins sent his shot despairingly wide after being played in by Theobald in the late minutes of the match.
With this win, Pune FC are now closing in on the top five spots with 31 points from 19 matches, wheareas the former champions Dempo SC were forced to be content with a five points lead over East Bengal.
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Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ranti Martins Striker Prayag United |
27 | 3 |
|
Odafa Onyeka Okolie Striker Mohun Bagan |
20 | 3 |
|
Edeh Chidi Striker East Bengal |
18 | 3 |
|
James Moga Striker Pune |
16 | 0 |
|
H. Antchouet Striker Churchill |
14 | 1 |