Dempo Sports Club began its Indian Football League (IFL) 2026–27 campaign on a winning note, securing a dramatic 1-0 victory over FC Bengaluru United here at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

Ghanaian defender Uzziel Yaw Asomaning Budu struck in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to break the deadlock and hand the hosts all three points. Billed as a classic David-versus-Goliath clash between a youthful FC Bengaluru United outfit and the seasoned campaigners of Dempo, the contest looked destined to end in a goalless stalemate as the visitor defended resolutely for large periods of the match.

However, Bengaluru switched off in the final 10 minutes and was punished in the dying moments when stopper-back Budu rose highest from a corner kick in the final minute of added time to glance home the winner in front of the home fans.

The game began on a scrappy note as both teams took time to settle on a slow pitch. Dempo slowly found their stride as the contest moved into the second quarter, stringing passes together and establishing a firm hold on ball possession.

Operating down the left flank, Saiesh Bagkar produced a couple of probing runs for the Goan side as he looked to link up with forwards Cledson Carvalho Dasilva and captain Richmond Kwasi Owusu. However, his efforts did not produce any real openings to trouble a well-organised Bengaluru defence marshalled by Daniel, Abdul Hannan, and goalkeeper Manjunath Hirekurbar.

Despite Dempo’s territorial dominance, FC Bengaluru United carved out its first chance of the evening from a corner kick in the 27th minute, though the resulting header was not on target.

The visitor slowly found its rhythm as the match moved into the third quarter past the half-hour mark, with captain Ribhav Sardesai and Lalramdinsanga Ralte working tirelessly in midfield to keep their shape.

Dempo continued to dominate the ball for the remainder of the opening period, commanding 70 per cent possession and producing close to 250 passes. While the host controlled possession well, it lacked intensity and penetration in the final third against a tight Bengaluru rearguard that kept compact numbers at the back, sending the two sides into the half-time break deadlocked at 0-0.

The match resumed at a much faster pace in the second half, with FC Bengaluru United showing greater attacking intent on the transition. The visitor came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Marat Tareck made a fine run in behind the Dempo backline with only the goalkeeper in sight.

However, a heavy touch from the Russian forward at the crucial moment allowed Dempo goalkeeper Subhajit Bhattacharjee to pounce swiftly on the ball and smother the danger without any harm.

Dempo responded at the other end and won a corner kick of its own, from which defender Athul Unnikrishnan rose to meet the delivery, only to send his header off target.

Although FC Bengaluru United was the better side for large spells of the second half, it lost concentration in the closing 10 minutes as Dempo pushed forward in search of a late breakthrough. In the 80th minute, Dempo carved out its best opportunity from open play when skipper Richmond Owusu delivered a spot-on pass to find Saiesh Bagkar inside the penalty box, only for his goal-bound shot to be bravely blocked by the Bengaluru defence.

With eight minutes of added time indicated, that missed chance initially appeared anticlimactic for the host, and for large moments it looked as though Bengaluru would return home with a well-earned point. However, a moment of brilliance in the eighth minute of added time changed everything.

Published on Nov 01, 2026