By I-League Media
CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh is all set to witness an enthralling clash between Minerva Academy SC and Dempo SC in the Second Division Final Round match at the Sector 17 Ground today.
Minerva Academy FC will look to go top of the table with a win which will take them to 8 points, 1 point clear of Neroca FC,who will eventually face Gangtok Himalayan SC in two days. The Pride of Punjab are on a three-match unbeaten run, having played out a goalless draw against Gangtok Himalayan SC in their last match.
Dempo are currently at the third place in the League standings with 4 points from 3 games.
Dempo SC, the most decorated club in I-League history, will no doubt field a strong lineup with a lot of their players having International experience in the likes of Mandar Desai, Romeo Fernandes, Jewel Raja, Debabrata Roy.
Minerva, however, are banking on their youngsters and the local players to pull off this Himalayan task. Minerva AFC have had the pleasure of beating Dempo before in the Western zone encounter. Minerva Academy FC scripted a success story when they defeated Dempo SC 1-0 at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana on 6th December 2015, all thanks to the solitary strike by Manvir Singh.
Whereas the Goan outfit held their nerves to register a win when these two sides faced off at the Tilak Maidan on the 3rd day of 2016. Beevan D’Mello found the target in the 3rd minute of the match and ex-Mumbai FC player Milagres Gonsalves doubled their lead after the hour-mark. Sehijpal Singh halved the gap in the last minute of the regulation time but it couldn’t deter the Goan team to smack all three points.
The match kicks off at the Sector 17 ground in Chandigarh at 4 PM IST today.