Dempo Sports Club 1 (Shubham Rawat 25’)
drew with
Chennaiyin FC 1 (Samik Mitra 29’)

AIFF Media Team

BAMBOLIM, GOA: Dempo Sports Club and Chennaiyin FC wrapped up their AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 Group A campaigns with a 1-1 draw at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, on Friday, October 31, 2025.

Forward Shubham Rawat gave Dempo the lead in the 25th minute, while Chennaiyin captain and goalkeeper Samik Mitra stunned everyone with a rare equaliser just four minutes later.

Following the draw, Dempo SC finished third in the Group A standings with three points, and Chennaiyin FC finished fourth, at the bottom, with one.

The first half unfolded with the two teams driven by contrasting motivations. The Golden Eagles sought to chase a miracle five-goal victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive, while Marina Machans, after losing their first two games, looked to end the campaign on a positive note and restore their pride.

Chennaiyin FC started on the front foot, pressing high from their early exchanges. Their early warning came when midfielder Kingslee Fernandes attempted a long-range strike that whistled past the post but set the tone for their early dominance.

Dempo SC gradually found their footing through a series of set pieces. Two back-to-back free kicks around the 18th and 19th minutes started to put Marina Machans under pressure and grow the confidence for the Goan side.

Soon after, their forward Shubham Rawat curled a brilliant right-footed free kick that found the top corner. But their lead was short-lived as Chennaiyin captain and goalkeeper Samik Mitra launched a long kick out from his own penalty area that bounced over Dempo keeper Ashish Sibi, to level the scores at 1-1.

Restlessness began to boil on the pitch for both sides, as Chennaiyin forward Irfan Yadwad and Dempo defender Pruthvesh Pednekar were booked before the break.

After the restart, Dempo, desperate for goals, began to press higher, but Chennaiyin’s composed and intent passing between Raj Basfore, Dinpuia, Kingslee and Hnamte effectively managed the pressure.

By the 53rd minute, Dempo’s urgency was evident as their attackers pushed forward, but Chennaiyin’s defence remained unshaken, passing the ball smartly and drawing out fouls from a restless Goan side.

In the 75th minute, the Marina Machans came close to taking the lead through an Irfan Yadwad header after Raj Basfore sent in a curling cross from the right, only for the striker’s header to go over the bar.

In stoppage time, Klusner Pereira sent in a cross from the right, which Yadwad tried to direct towards goal with a sliding touch, but the ball rolled wide of the post. The referee’s whistle soon followed, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.