In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Dempo took the lead in the 39th minute through Marcus Leric Jr. Joseph before Daniel Goncalves restored parity for Lajong two minutes into the second half. Mohamed Ali regained the lead for Dempo five minutes later, but Goncalves again came to Shillong Lajong's rescue by breaching the Dempo defence in the 90+7th minute
Dempo SC players celebrate captain Mohamed Ali's 52nd-minute goal.
Photo Credits: I-League
MARGAO
Dempo Sports Club were left heartbroken as Brazilian forward Daniel Goncalves struck deep into stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Shillong Lajong FC in their I-League 2024-25 clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles, who led 1-0 at halftime, were moments away from sealing three crucial points before Goncalves’ dramatic late intervention.
Marcus Leric Jr. Joseph put Dempo ahead in the 39th minute, but Lajong responded swiftly after the break through Goncalves. Captain Mohamed Ali restored the advantage for Dempo in the 52nd minute, but their defensive resilience cracked in the dying seconds as Goncalves completed his brace in the 97th minute.
The result meant Dempo slipped to ninth place with 19 points from 15 matches, while Shillong Lajong climbed to fifth with 23 points.
Dempo started brightly and nearly took an early lead in the sixth minute when Marcus Joseph found himself through on goal after a lofted pass. The Trinidadian striker fired a powerful left-footed effort, but Lajong’s goalkeeper, Ranit Sarkar, produced a sharp save to deny him.
However, Joseph wasn’t to be denied for long. In the 39th minute, Knerkitalang Buam raced down the right flank and delivered a low cross into the box.
Seigoumang Doungle met it with a first-time effort that forced another fine save from Sarkar, but the rebound fell perfectly for Joseph, who made no mistake in slotting home to hand Dempo a deserved lead.
Lajong responded within two minutes of the second half, with Goncalves rising highest inside the box to power a header past the Dempo custodian.
The Golden Eagles, determined to reclaim their advantage, struck back five minutes later. A free-kick situation saw Joseph’s deft touch deceive Sarkar, who managed to push the ball onto the post, but the lurking Mohamed Ali reacted quickest to tap in the rebound and put Dempo back in front.
Joseph continued to trouble the Lajong defence and almost secured the win in the 84th minute with a moment of brilliance, only for Sarkar to once again come to his team’s rescue. Just when Dempo seemed to have done enough, a lapse in concentration in stoppage time proved costly.
Kenstar Kharshong’s delivery into the box was expertly chested down by Hardy Cliff Nongbri into the path of Goncalves, who coolly slotted past the keeper to deny Dempo victory.
