PANJIM: Ten-man Dempo Sports Club came twice from behind to hold Sporting Clube de Goa to a 2-2 draw at their fortress in the U-18 I-Legaue Goa Zonals, at Don Bosco ground, here, on Tuesday. Sporting Clube de Goa led 2-1 at the break.
In an absorbing encounter, Viraj Niak netted the equalizer for The Golden Eagles early in the second half after Mosises D’sa handed The Flaming Oranje took the lead in the 14th minute. Earlier, Aaron D’Silva had cancelled out midfielder Daryl Costa’s fourth minute opener.
Dempo SC’s second half substitute Jason Lucas was shown straight red card in the 58th minute, when the formers minimal chest push was best utilized by Sporting Clube’s Jesmon Suares, going down in dramatic fashion.
Sporting Clube de Goa started the match with quick passing utilizing the width and soon capitalized the lead when Daryl D’Costa headed home of Akeraj’s pass of a short corner.
Dempo SC restored parity within four minutes, when Aaron D’Silva slotted home empty nets after Kapil’s initial attempt was parried away by the keeper to the striker.
Just as The Golden Eagles were gaining the momentum, the blues considered another goal from the set piece.
Moises D’Sa slammed a curling shot from the box after intial pass from the short corner from Clive Miranda.
Crossing ends, Dempo SC totally dominated the play a scored from a counter-attack when Nestor’s long ball was well placed by Viraj Naik before the rival custodian couldn’t even react.
Just when everything seemed right for the blues, referee flashed a straight red card for Dempo medio Jason Lucas for his physical confrontation on Jesmon Suares in the 58th minute.
The blues were forced to play for rest of the half an hour with ten-man.
Sporting Clube de Goa had their best chances but were denied by brilliant saves by Dempo custodian Ozen Silva.
Ozen Silva pulled up a flier to deny Delbert Fernandes late in the second half.
The Dempo team showed team spirit and fighting attitude with a brilliant display to hold Sporting Clube to 2-2 draw till the end.
The stubborn keeper Ozen pulled out couple of brilliant saves in the dying minutes of the match that surprised the crowd. First the flier that denied Gautam Dias and later his outstretched save to deny Daryl Costa.
