Football is not a 45 minutes game

If only the Aircraftmen would have realized that football is not a 45 minutes game and game does not get over in first half, then they could’ve easily avoided relegation.

If only the Aircraftmen would have realized that the importance of missing a scoring chance, then they could’ve easily avoided relegation.

Dempo defeated HAL 3-0 at the Bangalore Football Stadium today and  continued their dominance in I-League. Dempo maintain their lead in the points table with 27 points, followed closely by Churchill Brothers with 26 points. 

Playing on the Bangalore Football Stadium artificial turf for the first time, Dempo started tentatively. They had some early exchanges, however, HAL were seen to be making maximum purchase in their known front. They could have easily gone ahead in the 11th minute, only if striker Abdulla Hamza not missed an easy opportunity. 

None from HAL’s striking force could do justice from the deft crosses that came from the right wing. 

Dempo took the lead in the 55th minute by a penalty. Central defender, Biju Kumar committed a handball from a perfect kick from the top-right of the penalty box – that had goal written on it. Referee Pratap Singh out rightly awarded a penalty to Dempo and booked the offender.  Ranty made the score tally 1-0. 

Next goal came after 12 minutes. Antony Pereira’s free-kick was commendably saved by HAL keeper P Pramod. However, no one from the defense came for clearance, Ranty Martins latched on the ball that ricocheted to him, and took his goal tally to 13. 

The third goal came in the added time, when Climax Lawrence getting behind HAL defense and looped the ball accurate to the goal.