Srinagar, Jan 26: Real Kashmir FC continued their impressive home performance in the I-League 2024-25 with a solid 2-0 win against Goa’s Dempo Sports Club at the TRC Football Turf on Sunday. Both goals for the hosts came in the second half, scored by Lalramsanga (52′) and Abdou Karim Samb (58′), securing Real Kashmir’s fourth home victory of the season. This success has propelled Real Kashmir to fifth place in the league standings, amassing 16 points from 10 games. Meanwhile, Dempo SC remains in eighth position with 11 points from the same number of matches, struggling with a streak of five consecutive matches without a win and scoring only one goal during this period.
The match showcased the tactical acumen of two former India internationals turned coaches, with Ishfaq Ahmed’s Real Kashmir effectively outmaneuvering Samir Naik’s Dempo SC, who relied heavily on defensive solidity and counter-attacks.
The first clear opportunity came in the 30th minute when Dempo’s Shaher Shaheen set up Seigoumang Doungel, whose fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the box struck the crossbar, indicating the competitive nature of the first half. Conversely, Real Kashmir found it challenging to penetrate Dempo’s defense despite several efforts.
The match dynamics shifted dramatically in the second half when Real Kashmir upped their intensity. They broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute thanks to a mishandled clearance from Dempo’s defense, which allowed Lalramsanga to unleash a powerful left-footed shot from 25 yards, leaving goalkeeper Ashish Sibi helpless as it sailed past him.
Dempo attempted to respond and nearly equalized when Knerkitalang Buam struck the crossbar with a long-range effort, reflecting the team’s growing frustration. However, Real Kashmir quickly extended their lead in the 58th minute after a well-structured play on the right side. Paulo Cezar supplied a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, where Senegalese Karim Samb was well-positioned to head the ball into the net for the second goal.
The hosts came close to increasing their lead further in the 66th minute when Karim Samb intercepted a weak defensive pass, but he miss-fired, sending the shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. (PTI)
