MAPUSA: Bardez favourites Calangute Association came from behind to hold the mighty Dempo Sports Club to a 2-2 draw in the Goa Pro League match at Duler Stadium, here, on Wednesday.
After today’s match Dempo SC stand with 13 points from seven matches while Calangute Association have 12 points from nine matches.
The match got off to an exciting start and hardly had the fans got comfortable in their seats, Dempo SC shot into the lead when their newly recruited foreign import Josimar Da Silva Martins stylishly back-heeled the ball to overlapping Ali Mohammed who fired the ball home.
After some midfield play, the Azzuri’s once again struck in the 15th minute of play with this time Josimar himself getting on the scorer’s list, when on collecting the ball from almost the center-line he charged into the Calangute Association danger zone and fired the ball into the nets past the helpless rival keeper Jason D’Mello.
Stunned by the two goal deficit, Calangute Association pressed hard to get in the match but their strikers ran out of ideas on entering the danger zone.
In the 20th minute, Sachin Gawas made his way into the Dempo SC territory. However, his curling strike missed the target narrowly. Four minutes later, Latesh Mandrekar saw his weak attempt from the penalty box being comfortably collected by Dempo SC keeper Tyson Caido.
At the other end, Calangute Association custodian came with a brilliant save to push away Aiken Dias’ well executed header, at the expense of a corner.
Minutes before the lemon break, Calangute Association came close to scoring. However, first Felix Chidi Odili failed to direct his header off Sachin Gawas’s cross into the goal and then Valerio Rodrigues’ 30-yard effort sailed inches away.
Receiving some motivating words from the coach Alex Alvares, Calangute Association took the field with renewed ideas pinning their opponents in their own half for major part of the second half.
In the 49th minute, Felix made a good run into the Dempo SC 18-yard box and set up George D’Souza, who failed to score from handshaking distance.
After several missed chances, Calangute Association efforts at last paid off, when on seeing keeper Tyson way off his line, Felix took full advantage of the opportunity and shoot the ball into the empty nets, 2-1.
Eight minutes later, Calangute Association found the precious equalizer through Sachin on getting hold of the ball from Felix, unleashed a powerful strike which kissed the upright before entering the goal.
At the strike of the end of regulation time, Calangute Association were reduced to 10 men when Koume Joseph on receiving his second yellow card of the match was given marching orders by the referee.
