Fatorda, March 24 : Dempo Sports Club pushed Aizawl FC further into an arduous situation in the I-League 2024-25 relegation struggle with a resounding 5-2 victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday. The winners led 2-1 at half time.

Trinidad and Tobago striker Marcus Joseph was the hero of Dempo win with a hat-trick (26', 75', 90+6') under his belt. Pruthvesh Pednekar (5') and Vinay Vijay Harji (78') were the other scorers. For Aizawl FC, Zothanpuia (34') and Lalbiakdika (90+1) found the target.

While Dempo now can consider themselves placed in a much safer position with 25 points from 20 matches, former champions Aizawl FC face the threat of finding themselves relegated unless some dramatic changes happen in the last two rounds of the league.

Aizawl FC now have 19 points from 20 matches and are placed 11th in the points table ahead of already relegated Delhi FC. Since two teams will be relegated, it is expected to be a last-minute scramble between Aizawl FC and Sporting Club Bengaluru, who too are precariously placed in the 10 position, with 20 points from as many matches.

Initially, Aizawl FC didn't look like a team to be beaten by a big margin. But they paid the penalty for having a porous defence that let in goals, sometimes in a rather irresponsible manner. Joseph, who scored three, could have added at least a couple of more to his tally, as he was left unmarked in the danger area on a number of occasions.

The goal Vinay scored in the 78th minute was a gift by the goalkeeper Rafique Ali Sardar, who put the ball in the path of his opponents with a casual clearance that cost his team dearly. Former champions Dempo realised the gaps in the rival defence quickly and didn't waste the chances that came their way to emerge the deserving winners.

Aizawl FC struck two and were unlucky not to find at least two more. Once the post came their way and on the other occasion, they failed to take advantage of the situation.

/IANS