MAPUSA: Dempo SC Juniors topped the First Division League as they hammered St. Anthony’s, Marna-Siolim, 6-0 at Duler stadium, here on Monday. However, in another crucial play-off match, Young Boys of Tonca (YBT) beat Cortalim Villagers 2-1 and earned the qualification for 2023-24 Goa Professional League.
Dempo emerged at the top with 9 points from 5 matches with a +9 goal difference. However, they cannot qualify for the Goa Professional League as the club is already having its representation with its senior team in the topmost league. Consequently, the team that finished second in the First Division League, Young Boys of Tonca (YBT) earned the qualification spot after beating Cortalim Villagers in another match at Ella ground, Old Goa on Monday.
Dempo Jrs scored three goals in each session, withTapan Minj netting a brilliant hat-trick. Anish Gadar, Sairon Albuquerque and Naythan Coutinho accounted for the other three goals.
Dempo opened their account in the 35th minute. Under-20 Aryan Poll sent a through pass to Tapan who beat the off-side trap and beat the onrushing Siolim custodian Under-20 Jordon Fernandes.
Just two minutes later, Dempo doubled their lead from a combined move between Under-20 Aryan Poll and Anish Gadar resulting in Anish scoring with a power-packed strike.
In the 43rd minute, Under-20 Rohan Mangaonkar sent a floater to a well positioned Tapan, who controlled it and beat the rival custodian with a neat placement.
Just three minutes into the second session,Tapan completed his hat-trick scoring from inside the penalty box.
Marna had just one good look at the rival goal where Dalesh Pednekar found Madan Pompuphekar inside the 18-yard box but the latter shot wide.
Under-20 Sairon Albuquerque made it 5-0 with a brilliant solo effort, and substitute Naythan Coutinho rounded off the score tally.
It was a hard fought, precious victory for YBT against Cortalim Villagers. YBT needed a victory to qualify and they did it with a bit of luck. Both YBT and Cortalim, like Dempo Jrs, finished with 9 points each, both having recorded 3 victories, no draws and two defeats (3-0-2) each with YBT having +1 goal difference to Cortalim's +5. What finally tilted the scales in favour of YBT was their today's head-on victory result which placed them above Cortalim.
Cortalim Villagers were rather unlucky to lose today. After a goalless first half, YBT surged ahead in the 59th minute through Lucky Sabita. Cortalim hit back and drew parity in the 81st minute through a penalty converted by William Nicasso.
As the teams adopted a do-or-die attitude in search of the precious match-winner in the closing stages, Cortalim's William scored an own goal in the 89th minute which ultimately sealed their fate.
There were tense moments with Cyril Dias of Cortalim being given the red card after the second yellow in the 94th. From the 60th to the 94th, the referee showed the yellow to three Cortalim players and two YBT players.
Cortalim coach Jude Barreto was sent off from the bench in the 60th minute for intruding into the playfield and also using abusive language at the match official. Cortalim's assistant coach Johnson de Sousa was cautioned for leaving the technical area also in the 60th minute.
Nuvem Sports Club defeated Salgaocar FC Jrs by solitary goal at Don Bosco Oratory ground, Fatorda, on Monday.
Lenin Colaco scored the all-important goal for Nuvem SC in the second half.