Dempo SC scored a 2-1 win against Pailan Arrows in the 12th round of the I-League in Kolkata at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
Striker Joaquim Abranches scored both the goals for Dempo to help the defending champion climb back to the top of the current standings. Midfielder Milan Singh scored the only goal for Arrows from a first-half penalty.
Dempo found the break in the 10th minute due to some shoddy work from the Arrows custodian Ravi Kumar. Ravi made a mess of a simple collection allowing Abranches to snatch the ball and slot it into an empty goal. Arrows worked hard to neutralise Dempo’s advantage and found it in the last minute of the first half from a penalty which was awarded when Dempo defender Selwyn Fernandes handled the ball while trying to block a header from George. Milan Singh converted the penalty.
Dempo found the decider in the 59th minute, when Abranches scored from a spectacular left-footer.
Dempo returned to the top position netting 28 points from 12 matches while Arrows remained on 14 points from 11 outings.
The result: Dempo SC 2 (Joaquim Abranches 10th, 59th) bt Pailan Arrows 1 (Milan Singh 45th).
