Dempo Sports Club made Aizawl FC’s fight to avoid relegation even harder in the I-League 2024-25 with a dominant 5-2 win at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, March 24, 2025. Dempo led 2-1 at halftime.
Trinidad and Tobago striker Marcus Joseph was the star, scoring a hat-trick (26′, 75′, 90+6′). Pruthvesh Pednekar (5′) and Vinay Vijay Harji (78′) also scored for Dempo. For Aizawl FC, Zothanpuia (34′) and Lalbiakdika (90+1) scored their goals.
Dempo SC is now in a much safer position with 25 points from 20 matches, while former champions Aizawl FC are at risk of being relegated unless they make dramatic improvements in the last two rounds of the league.
Aizawl FC has 19 points from 20 matches and is in 11th place, just ahead of already-relegated Delhi FC. With two teams set to be relegated, Aizawl FC will have to fight hard in the final rounds, especially against Sporting Club Bengaluru, who are in 10th place with 20 points from 20 matches.
At first, Aizawl FC didn’t seem like a team that would lose by a large margin, but their weak defense allowed too many goals, often in careless ways. Marcus Joseph, who scored three goals, could have had even more, as he was left unmarked several times in dangerous positions.
Vinay’s goal in the 78th minute was a gift from Aizawl FC’s goalkeeper, Rafique Ali Sardar, who made a poor clearance that handed the ball to the opponents. Dempo quickly took advantage of the gaps in Aizawl’s defense and made sure to score when the chances came, earning a well-deserved victory.
Aizawl FC managed to score twice and was unlucky not to score at least two more. They hit the post once and failed to capitalize on another opportunity.
