Zico started with Elinton Andrade in between the sticks with Lucio marshaling the defense alongside Gregory Arnolinand Victor Simoes in the attack while Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai were employed on the right and left wings respectively.
Dempo had the first attempt at goal although it was a shot by BeevanD’Mello away from the target while FC Goa continued to press hard before another shot by UttamRai kept the Gaurs alert at the back in the opening exchanges.
Coming into their own, FC Goa had a few chances but Simoes’ powerful drive and JofreMateu Gonzalez’s curling effort both lacked accuracy.
In the 21st minute, Jofre put in a delightful pass to Mandar who relays it to Simoes setting up Romeo on the right side. The Goanposterboy’s shot was however comfortably blocked by Dempo goalkeeper Tyson Caido.
Mandar’s corner was averted as far as Leo Moura whose shot went over in the 29th minute, two minutes before Dempo took the lead.
Andrade’s poor pass to Keenan Almeida was intercepted by Germanpreet Singh before taking pleasure in placing it into the far corner.
It took five minutes for Zico’s men to give a response through an equaliser scored by Romeo who took a touch off Mandar’s cross and slotted it past the Dempo custodian.
Andrade was required to make a good save to tip a shot by Velito Cruz from just outside the box above the post as the teams walked into the break tied at 1-1.
On resumption of the second half, after Jofre’s cross was blocked by Dempo defender Chika Wali, Lucio’s header came off the crossbar.
FC Goa looked a better side post the half-time pep talk by Zico and held the advantage in terms of ball possession that reflected well with Moura’s fantastic curling shot at the hour mark from outside the box which outstretched Caido could do nothing about.
Moura and Jofre made way for Jonatan Lucca and Darryl Duffy for the final 15 minutes of the game and it took Duffy just two minutes to get his name on the score sheet. Simoes pushed the ball forward on the left which the Scot placed in the far corner.
Lucca saw his shot go wide a few minutes later and again failed to find the target after some good interplay between Duffy and VictorinoFernandes.
Dempo tried desperately in the dying minutes of the game, but Zico had to be content with a much better second half performance that earned his side a win with a convincing scoreline.
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