Indian football wrap: Sreenidi Deccan FC edges past Dempo SC 3-2

Indian football wrap: Sreenidi Deccan FC edges past Dempo SC 3-2

Sreenidi Deccan FC came back strongly to score a hard-fought 3-2 win against Dempo SC in the Round 16 of I-League championship at PJN Stadium on Tuesday.

David Castaneda scored a brace, finding the back of the net in the 53rd and 59th minutes of the game and Brandon Vanlalremdika scored the winning goal in the 69th minute of the game.

It was the team from Goa which capitalised on its first real chance in the eighth minute when Juan Mera’s cross from the left was headed down by Marcus Joseph into the back of the net.

In the third and final minute of additional time, Dempo SC doubled their lead, with Juan Mera pouncing on a loose ball to score, sending the hosts into the half-time break with a 2-0 advantage.

In the second-half, Sreenidi bounced back in the 53rd minute when David Castaneda connected with a set-piece delivery and headed the ball into the net. Six minutes later, Angel Orelien found Lalnuntluanga inside the box, and the Mizo midfielder took a shot on target. Though the opposition keeper managed to parry the ball away, Castaneda was perfectly positioned at the far post to slot it home, leveling the score at 2-2.

In the 69th minute, Castaneda, finding himself inside the box, skilfully evaded a defender before passing to Brandon at the far post. Brandon made no mistake, finishing confidently to put Sreenidi Deccan FC ahead 3-2.

Sreenidi will now host Namdhari FC at the Deccan Arena on March 2.

-Team Sportstar

The India U20 women’s team ended its Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup campaign with a 0-3 defeat to Russia at the Emirhan Sport Centre on Tuesday.

Russia scored twice inside the first 17 minutes and added another soon after the restart before India created a handful of opportunities to get on the scoresheet but ultimately came out empty-handed.

The Young Tigresses had beaten Jordan 2-1 and Hong Kong 1-0 last week.

For India, the friendly matches was part of its preparations for the SAFF U20 Women’s Championship and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in July and August, respectively.

It was an end-to-end start, with both India and Russia having a go at each other’s defence in the first 10 minutes. While Lhingdeikim saw her 20-yard effort dip on top of the net, Arina Shuba forced Moirangthem Monalisha Devi to make a one-on-one save.

Gradually, Russia began to exert control and India were pinned inside their defensive third.

Getting on the end of a free-kick from Tatiana Danilochkina, Mariia Nachaeva headed into the far corner to open the scoring in the 15th minute. Less than two minutes later, Polina Pavlova doubled the lead with a solid 20-yard half-volley that rocketed into the top corner.

Natalia Perminova got Russia on the scoresheet again just two minutes after the restart, side-footing a cutback from 10 yards out.

-PTI

Published on Feb 25, 2025