MAPUSA: Goan Football Club and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim played out a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Tuesday.

With the draw, Goans remain in third position with 19 points from 13 matches, while Cavelossim are struggling at the 11th spot with just seven points from 12 outings. 

Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes had made a few changes to his side which lost to Vasco SC in the last round match as Yogendra Thapa, Samson Simoes and Michael Silva started for the South Goan club, while Goan coach Clifford Miranda brought back Leander D’Cunha and Brain Faria in the starting XI, following their 2-2 draw in the last match against Calangute Association. 

Though Goans were the dominant side in the session, they could not break the Cavelossim defence once in the entire session. 

The only chance of the session came into Goans way in the 31st minute when they got a free-kick just outside the box but Cavelossim keeper Rajak Devsor made a brilliant save as he divingly tipped it for a corner.

Newly signed midfielder Lalmuankima Hauhnar made debut for Goans as he replaced injured Veegan Ferrao in the 40th minute. 

With just a few minutes left to the half-time, the South Goan club tried to build up some attacks on the rivals but the Goan defence led by Meldon D’Silva and Lalnunsiama gave no space to the opponents as both the teams entered the half-time goalless.

At the half-time, coach Clifford made some tactical changes as he replaced out of colour striker Aaren D’Silva, while Leander was given the responsibility of the striking and he almost scored in the third minute of the second session when Krishna Pandit made a perfect through pass to the striker who covered some ground before striking from close but his shot missed the target narrowly.

However, in the 53rd minute, Leander made no mistake to tap the ball home from close after getting a square pass from Lalmuankima in the box. 

Brian contributed a major part in the goal as he found Lalmuankima with a pin-point perfect cross from the right.

Energized by a goal, Goans came up with a series of attacks on the opponents but first Krishna Pandit failed to collect Lalmuankima’s long ball with just Cavelossim keeper Razak at the stake, while a few minutes later, Lalmuankima dangerously moved inside the box and shot on the goal but the Cavelossim keeper Razak came up with a diving save to deny the winger.

At the other end, Cavelossim stunned the opponents with an equaliser with just four minutes left to the full-time whistle as their skipper Mathew Colaco stabbed in from point-blank range off Richard Fernandes’ corner to make it all level.