I-League 2024-25: Babovic Shines Again as Dempo Maintains Impressive Away Form
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Ludhiana, Dec 3 (NationPress) Dempo SC capitalized on Matija Babovic’s early goal in the second half to secure a 1-0 victory against Namdhari FC during the opening match of Round 3 in the I-League 2024-25 season at the Namdhari Stadium.
This marks Dempo’s third clean sheet and second consecutive win, propelling them to the top of the standings temporarily with seven points. Last week, they triumphed over Shillong Lajong with a score of 2-0, where Serbian Babović netted the second goal.
Conversely, Namdhari remains without a win, sitting in 10th place with just a solitary point. The clash between record champions Dempo SC and newcomers Namdhari FC commenced with numerous opportunities for the former. Dempo created their first significant chance in the fourth minute when an unmarked Seigoumang Doungel mishandled an accurately delivered Damián Pérez free-kick. Shortly after, the Argentinian had two long-range efforts that went wide.
After absorbing the visitors' early pressure, Namdhari began to challenge Dempo’s defense. Fernando Capobianco’s team posed a threat from set pieces, with Ghanaian midfielder Joseph Gordon almost catching Ashish Sibi off guard with a curling free-kick, but the Dempo goalkeeper reacted in time to save it.
Francis Addo, back from a one-game suspension for a red card against Delhi FC, was thwarted from scoring by a critical deflection from Mohamed Ali. The Dempo captain managed to deflect Addo's powerful strike off target.
In the 38th minute, Addo attempted an acrobatic volley from a Bhupinder Singh corner, which would have undoubtedly been a goal of the season contender had Sibi not been vigilant enough to prevent it.
Once again, Dempo came out strong at the start of the second half, catching Namdhari off guard. The Golden Eagles found the breakthrough in the 47th minute when Knerkitalang Buam delivered a long ball that breached the hosts’ high defensive line, allowing Matija Babovic to sneak behind and nudge the ball past a stranded Nishan Singh. Babovic nearly scored again six minutes later, heading a cross from Mohamed Ali just over the bar. Namdhari then had their best chance to equalize when Cledson Carvalho da Silva, who had been quiet in the first half, intercepted the ball from Ali, surged into the box, and fired a low shot just centimeters wide of the far post.
From that point forward, the match revolved around Dempo's efforts to withstand the advances of Namdhari's Brazilian duo, Cledson and Vicente de Paula Mercedes, who came off the bench. However, that Cledson opportunity turned out to be the closest the hosts would come to scoring. Dempo remained defensively robust, and Samir Naik’s impactful substitutions enabled them to hold on for the win and secure all three points.
Next up, the Golden Eagles will face fellow promoted team SC Bengaluru in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Namdhari will welcome Aizawl FC on Sunday.
