Golden eagles

The Golden Eagles: Dempo SC rode on Matija Babovic’s early strike in the second half to beat Namdhari FC 1-0 in the opening game of Round 3 of the I-League 2024-25 season at the Namdhari Stadium.

It was Dempo’s third clean sheet and second win in a row that takes them to the top of the table for the time being with seven points. Last week, they had beaten Shillong Lajong 2-0, with Serbian Babović scoring the second.

Namdhari, on the other hand, remain winless and down in 10th spot with a solitary point. The meeting between record champions Dempo SC and relative newcomers Namdhari FC began with a flurry of chances for the former. Dempo got their first big chance in just the fourth minute as an unmarked Seigoumang Doungel miscued an accurately-delivered Damián Pérez free-kick. Minutes later, the Argentinian saw two long-range attempts flash wide.