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Rodriguez Winner Seals Diamond Harbour's Historic First IFL Victory

Diamond Harbour FC secured a historic first Indian Football League victory with a 2-1 win over Dempo SC at Kalyani Stadium. Antonio Moyano's clever chip gave the hosts a halftime lead before Marcus Joseph's superb solo effort leveled the score after the break. The winner came from substitute Hugo Díaz Rodríguez, who finished clinically in the 70th minute following a cross from Bryce Brian Miranda. Dempo SC hit the crossbar late on but Diamond Harbour held firm through seven minutes of added time to claim the three points.

Key Points: Diamond Harbour FC's First IFL Win: Rodriguez Strike Secures 2-1 Win

  • Historic first IFL win for Diamond Harbour FC
  • Antonio Moyano's brilliant first-half opener
  • Marcus Joseph's solo equalizer for Dempo
  • Hugo Díaz Rodríguez scores decisive 70th-minute winner
3 min read

IFL 2025-26: Rodriguez strike secures Diamond Harbour's first-ever win

Diamond Harbour FC clinched their first-ever Indian Football League win, beating Dempo SC 2-1 with a decisive goal from Hugo Díaz Rodríguez.

"Hugo Diaz Rodriguez was perfectly positioned to restore Diamond Harbour's lead with a clinical finish."

Kalyani, March 8

Diamond Harbour FC secured their first-ever Indian Football League 2025-26 victory after edging past Dempo SC 2-1 at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday. Antonio Moyano gave the home side the lead in added time of the first half. A second-half strike by Marcus Joseph equalised the score, and Hugo Díaz's strike in the 70th minute gave

Antonio Moyano gave the home side the lead in added time of the first half. A second-half strike by Marcus Joseph equalised the score, and Hugo Díaz's strike in the 70th minute gave Diamond Harbour their first win.

Diamond Harbour head coach Kibu Vicuña made two alterations to his starting line-up from their previous outing, bringing in Hugo Díaz and Halicharan Narzary for Bryce Brian Miranda and Pintu Mahata.

Dempo SC manager Samir Subash Naik made three changes to his side, handing starts to Jose Luis Moreno Pena, Amay Morajkar, and Knerkitalang Buam in place of Vieri Colaco, Richmond Kwasi Owusu, and Seigoumang Doungel.

Dempo created a couple of half-chances in the opening ten minutes, but Diamond Harbour soon regained control. The hosts dictated the tempo and heavily dominated possession throughout the first half, doing everything right except finding the back of the net.

The breakthrough finally arrived deep into first-half stoppage time (45+4') against the run of play. Catching Dempo off guard on a rapid counter-attack, Spanish midfielder Antonio Moyano produced a brilliant finish, executing a fantastic scoop over the goalkeeper to give Diamond Harbour a well-deserved 1-0 lead going into the break.

The second half proved to be a topsy-turvy affair as both teams hunted for goals. Dempo responded strongly and found their equaliser in the 55th minute. Trinidadian forward Marcus Leric Jr Joseph showcased his individual brilliance, expertly going past two defenders before slotting home a calm finish to make it 1-1.

Searching for a winner, Coach Vicuna made an inspired substitution that paid dividends just two minutes after the change. In the 70th minute, substitute Bryce Brian Miranda delivered a precise cross into the box, and Hugo Diaz Rodriguez was perfectly positioned to restore Diamond Harbour's lead with a clinical finish.

Dempo almost found a second equaliser in the 76th minute, but the crossbar came to Diamond Harbour's rescue to agonisingly deny Joseph a brace. With a hefty seven minutes of extra time added, the Goan outfit piled on the pressure, but the hosts held their nerve and defended resolutely to seal a historic 2-1 victory.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, this was a fantastic match to watch! End-to-end stuff in the second half. Marcus Joseph's goal was brilliant, but Diamond Harbour's resilience was impressive. The IFL is getting more competitive every season.
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Ananya R
Heartbreak for Dempo SC. They had their chances, especially that shot off the crossbar! Sometimes luck just isn't on your side. Samir Naik needs to sort out the defense on counters. But credit to Diamond Harbour, they wanted it more.
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Vikram M
Historic win for the club! The atmosphere in Kalyani must have been electric. Good to see Halicharan Narzary getting a start. We need more Indian players having a decisive impact in these tight games. The foreign players can't do it all.
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Michael C
Respectful criticism: The article mentions Dempo's "half-chances" but doesn't detail them. As a tactics enthusiast, I'd love more analysis on the midfield battle and why Diamond Harbour dominated possession. Otherwise, great reporting on a thrilling match!
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Priya S
What a moment for the fans! First win is always special. Hugo Díaz came on and made the difference. That's the sign of a good squad. Hoping this is the start of a proper football culture in Diamond Harbour. More local support, please! ⚽

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