MAPUSA: Unbeaten Salgaocar FA managed to hold Dempo Sports Club to a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League played at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Both the teams came into the match with their last match wins which saw both the coaches come with two changes each in their Starting XI.
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After Monday’s drawn encounter, Salgaocar FA stand second in the league table with 10 points from four league matches while Dempo SC have 8 points from five matches.
Golden Eagles coach Samir Naik missed his striker Uttam Rai upfront due to injury but looked content to have back his skipper Beevan D’Mello in the Starting XI who twice proved to be the provider for Latesh Mandrekar inside the penalty box who once saw Salgaocar’s Selwyn Miranda come up with a timely clearance before the latter could connect it home.
It was the Green Brigade who had number of scoring chances in the first session but Rollwin Almeida’s shot out from close went out while minutes later Dempo keeper Melroy Fernandes left his charge to clear the ball to safety before U20 Aaron Baretto could collect a long clearance from defender Saurabh Patil.
The best chance for Green Brigade came in the injury time where Selwyn Miranda got hold to a pass from Rollwin, dribbled past two defenders and drilled a stiff grounder which rebounded off the goal post.
Just five minutes into the second session, skipper Daniel Gomes cleared the ball for a corner to deny Dempo’s U-20 Richard Cardozo from scoring off Beevan D’Mello’s through ball.
In the 64th minute, Dempo came up with a well combined move between Suraj Hadkonkar and Beevan who in turn set up Kirtikesh Gadekar just outside the six-yard box, who to the dismay of his teammates’ shot at the side netting.
Ten minutes later, another glorious chances went a begging for Dempo when Edwin Viegas was a bit late to connect a dangerous cross from Richard Cardozo.
Just at the end of regulation time, Dempo team officials and players were crestfallen when a strong appeal for a penalty by Dempo players was turned down by referee David Rebello after Stephen Alvares had handled the ball inside the goal area from a goalmouth melee after keeper Jason D’Mello fumbled to collect Shallum Pires’ floater inside the Salgaocar goal area.
