NAVELIM: Dempo Sports Club and Football Club de Bardez played out a 0-0 draw in the U-20 TACA league game, organised by Goa Football Association played at Navelim ground on Wednesday.
Dempo SC having won their previous encounter against Panjim Footballers 5-0 began with a positive spirit and created the first chance through Desmon Pereira who lobbed the ball over from the right flank but the keeper tapped it for a corner.
The first 20 minutes witnessed both sides trying to break through the rivals defence but nothing changed the score line as both restricted to midfield play.
The Bardez club had an impressive run on the right side through Joywin Carneiro who moved in from midfield but found his cross placed above the post.
The best chance in the first quarter was created by Dempo’s Aaron Alvares who ran into the box but Boris De Mello shot high in the 22nd minute.
On the counter attack Royston Coutinho’s sparking shot from the right edge of the box was well caught by the Dempo custodian.
Vineet Bugde of Dempo SC had an impressive run in the 30th minute moving past two defenders but failed to time his pass as the Bardez defence regrouped and cleared the danger.
The dying minutes of the first session saw both teams press to find the opening. Bardez came close to scoring as Danston Fernandes’s freekick was well placed for Dhiraj who shot from the corner post but the keeper was alert to save it.
On the counter attack Nikhil Gurung’s header for Dempo in 43rd minute lacked power as it was an easy catch for the Bardez goalkeeper.
Dempo SC should have gone into the half with a one goal lead as Boris placed a perfect cross to Desmon who passed it into the box to Aaron Alvares but the later failed to flick it into the nets resulting in both teams end the first half goalless.
The Bardez side regrouped as they came out strong and Dialon Gama came close to scoring in the 50th minute as he was in a commanding situation with just the keeper to beat but his shot was well saved by the keeper Flezbern Souza.
The teams failed to break the deadlock in the first hour as both cancelled out each other’s chances.
Vineet’s header just went a whisker away from target for Dempo SC in the 74th minute.
On the counter attempt, Dialon Gama’s header was going straight into the nets but it was once again the Dempo keeper who saved the fine strike.
It was Dialon yet again for the Bardez boys as he created some chances and should have scored in the 89th minute but his header of Danstan’s corner went pass the post.
The game ended in a draw with both teams sharing the points as it was a well contested game from both sides.
