East Bengal’s wastefulness in front of goal cost them dearly as they were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by a resilient Dempo SC in their opening Group A match of the Super Cup on Saturday.
Mohamed Ali gave Dempo a first-half lead before Naorem Mahesh Singh and Miguel Ferreira turned the game around for East Bengal.
However, just when victory seemed secure, Laximanrao Rane struck late for Dempo, shattering the hopes of the Red and Golds.
This was the first meeting between these two historic clubs in over a decade, with East Bengal having emerged victorious the last time they clashed in the I-League in 2015.
The Red and Golds, who were Super Cup champions in 2024 and runners-up in the recent IFA Shield, entered the contest as clear favourites. But Dempo,
unbeaten in this season’s Goa Pro League and playing on home soil, defied expectations.
Dempo capitalised on an opportunity in the 27th minute from a set-piece. Amay Morajkar floated a teasing free-kick into the box. East Bengal goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar rushed off his line but misjudged the flight of the ball.
In the ensuing chaos, the ball fell kindly to Mohamed Ali, who slotted it into an empty net.
However, just a minute after the restart, East Bengal’s Hamid Ahadad unleashed a powerful shot from distance. Dempo goalkeeper Ashish Sibi parried it straight into the path of Naorem Mahesh Singh, who smashed home a grounded left-footer to level the score at 1-1.
The equaliser reignited East Bengal’s rhythm, and in the 57th minute, substitute Miguel Ferreira produced a moment of individual brilliance.
Lalchungnunga lofted a perfectly weighted ball over the Dempo defence on the left flank. Ferreira sprinted onto it and, from a tight angle, struck a fierce bouncing shot that flew past Sibi into the far corner, finally giving East Bengal the lead.
In the 89th minute, Laximanrao Rane received the ball at the edge of the East Bengal penalty area. Shielding it superbly from his marker, he swivelled and drilled a low shot toward the near post, with Majumdar rooted to the spot as the ball nestled into the net, prompting wild celebrations from the Dempo dugout.
(With Input From PTI)
