Team Herald
MAPUSA: Bardez Football Club snatched a valuable point by holding Vasco Sports Club to a 2-2 draw in the Goa Professional League match of the GFA, played at Duler stadium, here on Friday.
With Friday’s win, Vasco move to 10 points while Bardez FC looking for survival in this year’s GPL have four points.
Lenstan Afonso and Aman Govekar got the goals for Vasco while Cho Lepcha and Sonam Bhutia were the scorers for Bardez FC.
Bardez FC showed improvement from their last outing where they were thrashed by Churchill Bros and lead 1-0 at half time through Cho Lepcha who directed his header past the keeper from a well directed cross by Richard in the 27th minute.
Cho Lepcha who has been in a fine goal scoring form almost gave the early breakthrough for Bardez FC in the 12th minute but his smart header found the crossbar and came back into play after being set up by Richard Cardoz.
Changing ends, Vasco showed more urgency in their attack and almost levelled in the 55th minute but the Bardez keeper Royal Basumatory brilliantly pushed Moises D’Sa’s cracking shot inside the 6-yard box for a corner.
Unmarked Moises once again had a golden chance but could not sort out his feet to get a touch and guided the ball into the goal from a long floater by Benston Barretto
The Port Towners’ continuous pressure paid off in the 68th minute when Lenstan Afonso put the finishing touches with an header from a well drilled free kick taken by Moises who made up for his earlier missed chances to make it 1-1.
Aman Govekar then made it 2-1 in the 73rd minute with a smart finish from a low cross by Schubert Pereira who punished some sloppy Bardez FC defending.
Starring at defeat, Bardez FC kept their cool and stunned Vasco by equalising in the 88th minute once again from a header. Richard Cardoz’s curling cross inside the penalty box found Sonam Bhutia who outsmarted his marker and headed the ball past the helpless keeper to the joy of their supporters.
Bardez FC nearly snatched victory in the added time but ONG Lepcha’s diving header missed the goal post by inches after being found by Richard.
