A spectacular free-kick in the final minute by the Costa Rican World Cupper Carlos Hernandes enabled Prayag United defeat defending champion Dempo SC in a 14th round I-League match at the Municipal Stadium in Kalyani on Friday.
Prayag, after suffering successive losses in the previous two rounds, returned to the winning ways after Dempo was reduced to 10 men with defender Debabrata Roy, two bookings, ejected in the 86th minute.
The Kolkata outfit fielded its full team and Hernandes and Nigerian Ranty Martins orchestrated the moves.
The Costa Rican, who is the playmaker of the team, enabled Prayag avenge the 1-3 defeat against Dempo in the first meeting.
Dempo goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury made a few saves.
The Dempo custodian parried a free-kick from Hernandes in the 78th minute but had no clue to the 90th minute free-kick.
Prayag earned 17 points form 13 games while Dempo remained on 26 points from 13.
The result: Prayag United 1 (Carlos Hernandes 90) bt Dempo SC 0.
