MAPUSA: Beneston Barretto who came from the bench scored to enable Dempo SC to hold Churchill Brothers to a 1-1 draw in the CAM Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium, here, on Saturday.
After this drawn encounter, Dempo colts still maintain the top spot with 16 points 7 matches while Churchill Brothers with 14 points from 8 matches are on third place.
While Red Machine striker Malsawmdawngkima put his team ahead it was Golden Eagles Beneston Barretto who cancelled the lead.
In the earlier league match, Churchill Brothers had drawn against FC Goa while Dempo had got the better of Velsao SCC.
Red Machine should have taken an early lead when Brian Faria was caught by the referee in the act of handling the ball inside the danger zone. However, Schubert Pereira saw his spot kick being stopped by Dempo’s keeper Dylan D’Silva.
Another chance was squandered for Churchill Brothers as Jobern Cardozo’s shot out from close quarters.
At the other end, Dempo’s Desmon Pereira missed a sitter while Pedro Gonsalves saw his strike being blocked by Churchill’s defender George D’Souza.
Churchill’s coach brought an early substitution replacing Schubert Pereira with Malsawmdawngkima at half an hour mark.
This substitution paid dividend as Malsawmdawngkima intercepted a pass from Dempo’’s defender Shallum Pires and beat keeper Dylan D’Silva with a neat placement to give his side the lead.
If not for the miss from Kirtikesh Gadekar Dempo would have leveled terms before going into the breather.
Nothing much transcribed in the first quarter of the second session which saw Dempo Coach Samir Naik bring in Vieri Colaco, Gaurav Kankonkar and Beneston Barretto from the bench.
Just like Red Machine this strategy also brought success for Golden Eagles as Beneston Barretto chest a long ball from Shallum Pires to finish it acrobatically past Churchill’s keeper Subhajit Bhattacharjee in the 65th minute of play to make it 1-1.
Pepped up by the goal, Dempo should have collected full points but this time Beneston failed to score from close.
Dempo’s Brian Faria received the man of the match award from Sujay Korgaonkar (PI Mapusa Special Branch).
In another match at Nagoa ground, Salgaocar FC defeated Sporting Clube de Goa 3-2.
Salgaocar were first to take the lead in the 25th minute but Sporting Clubr managed to pull two goals back just before the breather through Richie Vaz and Chandan Gawas, with both goals being scored in the additional time.
In the second half Salgaocar were clearly the better side as Samuel Costa restored parity in the 78th minute.
Antush Moniz then scored the match winner for Salgaocar in the stoppage time to seal full points for Salgaocar.
Salgaocar’s Samuel Costa was named the player of the match and the award was presented by Sporting Clube de Goa president Natalina Vaz.
