Dempo beat Bengaluru United 1-0 with stoppage-time header in IFL 2026–27 opener

Dempo SC defeated FC Bengaluru United 1-0 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, in their Indian Football League (IFL) 2026–27 opener on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Ghanaian defender Uzziel Yaw Asomaning Budu scored in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to secure the winner.

Billed as a David-versus-Goliath clash between a youthful FC Bengaluru United outfit and an experienced Dempo side, the match began scrappily on a slow pitch and looked destined for a goalless draw as Bengaluru defended resolutely for large periods. Dempo grew into the game in the second quarter, with Saiesh Bagkar producing probing runs down the left to link with Cledson Carvalho Dasilva and captain Richmond Kwasi Owusu, but those efforts failed to produce clear openings against a Bengaluru backline marshalled by Daniel, Abdul Hannan and goalkeeper Manjunath Hirekurbar.

Dempo controlled possession in the opening period, enjoying 70 per cent of the ball and completing close to 250 passes, yet they lacked intensity and penetration in the final third and the sides went into half-time locked at 0-0. FC Bengaluru United carved out their first opportunity from a corner in the 27th minute when a resulting header failed to trouble the target, while captain Ribhav Sardesai and Lalramdinsanga Ralte worked to maintain the visitors’ shape in midfield.

The second half resumed at a quicker tempo with Bengaluru showing greater attacking intent on the break. Russian forward Marat Tareck threatened for the visitors after making an excellent run in behind the Dempo backline of Budu, Athul Unnikrishnan and Pruthvesh Pednekar, leaving himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but a heavy touch allowed Dempo goalkeeper Subhajit Bhattacharjee to react and gather the ball.

Dempo responded by winning a corner from which Athul Unnikrishnan rose highest but sent his header wide, and the intensity dropped until the final hydration break. Although Bengaluru were the better side for large spells of the second half, the visitors lost concentration during the closing 10 minutes as Dempo pushed for a late breakthrough.

In the 80th minute Dempo created their best open-play chance when Richmond Owusu threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Saiesh Bagkar inside the penalty area, only for his goal-bound effort to be bravely blocked by the Bengaluru defence. With eight minutes of added time signalled, the outcome looked likely to be a draw until the final moments when Dempo won a corner and Budu timed his jump to glance a precise header towards the far post, beating Hirekurbar and sending the home supporters into celebration.

Uzziel Budu’s last-gasp header proved decisive as Dempo capitalised on FC Bengaluru United’s late defensive lapse to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win and begin their IFL 2026–27 home campaign with all three points.