Real Kashmir title hopes take a hit after Dempo draw

Margao: Dempo SC goalkeeper Ashish Sibi made two impressive saves in stoppage time to stop Real Kashmir FC as the two teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Saturday.

Ashish started the match on the bench with coach Samir Naik handing Sangramjit Roy Chowdhury his debut in this season’s I-League. The keeper was in fine form in the first half but had to be rushed to the hospital in the second after taking a blow.

Ashish stepped in and was impressive yet again making two saves late in the game. The first was a close-range effort in a one-on-one situation and the other a long-range strike that he parried away.

Didier Brossou (43’) gave Dempo the lead, but Real Kashmir’s Kamal Issah (52’) equalised soon after the restart.

The draw meant Real Kashmir’s title hopes took a severe blow. The hopes are not yet over, mathematically at least. However, their aspirations took a severe dent as they now find themselves two points behind leaders Churchill Brothers, who have one match in hand. The Snow Leopards have 36 points from 21 matches.

Dempo took the lead in the 43rd minute as Lukman Adefemi laid the ball for Didier Brossou to produce a right-footed shot that skimmed low across the turf and sailed into the net.

The equaliser came early in the second half with Kamal Issah hammered home from outside the box, after the keeper had lost the ball in a defensive lapse.

Real Kashmir face Churchill in the concluding league clash at home while Dempo travel to Kerala to face Gokulam.