MAPUSA: An injury time goal by substitute Agnelo D’Souza helped Vasco Sports Club to split points with Dempo Sports Club after their 10th round match of the Goa Pro League ended in a 2-2 draw, at Duler stadium, here, on Tuesday.
Dempo had collected full points in their first leg encounter through a 1-0 win.
Playing with ten-men in the entire second session, Vasco SC put up a brave performance and scored through Chinedu Emmanuel and Agnelo D’Souza while Ali Mohammad and Aniston Fernandes were on target for Dempo SC.
It was Vasco SC who had the first clear look at the rival goal in the 11th minute when Melistan
Pereira after weaving his way past the Dempo defense unleashed a powerful right-footer which was kept away by the diving Dempo SC keeper Tyson Caido.
At the other end, Aniston Fernandes sent the ball across to Beevan D’Mello. However, the latter’s pinpoint header banged the Vasco horizontal bar and fell back in play.
After several missed chances, Vasco SC shot into the lead in the 35th minute when skipper
Chinedu came with a classic goal, scoring through a curling strike from edge of the box, leaving keeper Tyson rooted to the ground.
Finding themselves a goal down, Dempo SC increased the pace of the attack and seven minutes later were rewarded with the equalizer when Shallum Pires sent the ball across the goal to Ali Mohammad who made no mistake to send the ball into the far corner of Vasco SC goal.
The next minute itself Vasco SC received another setback when referee Sunil Nanodkar flashed a direct red card to Jerose Oliviera for a vicious tackle on goal scorer Ali.
Crossing over, Vasco SC went into the attack right from the start where in the 47th minute defender Ali came with a goalline clearance to keep away Hayson Velho’s header from hand-shaking distance.
The visitors were lucky not to collect another red card when Beevan D’Mello, who was dangerously moving towards the goal was brought down by keeper Jerson inside the danger zone.
In the 52nd minute a defensive error put Vasco SC a goal down when Steven Fernandes’s cross was not cleared by the last line of defense and the ball travelled towards Aniston Fernandes, who made no mistake to take his team into the lead, 2-1.
Minutes later, Dempo SC were awarded a penalty after Melistan Pereira brought down Beevan D’Mello inside the 18-yard box. However, Milagres’ strike from the spot-kick was brilliantly kept away by keeper Jerson to the relief of Vasco SC supporters.
When it looked like Dempo SC were headed for a win, substitute Agnelo D’Souza brought Vasco SC back into the match in the late moments of injury time, through a long ranger curling strike to make it 2-2.
