MAPUSA: FC Bardez came from a goal down to register a hard-fought 3-2 win over Dempo Sports Club in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played under floodlights at Duler Stadium, here on Monday.
Dempo coach Samir Naik made no changes to his side which won the last match against Panjim Footballers by four goals, whereas Bardez gaffer Armando Colaco made three changes after a 3-3 draw in the last match against Sporting Clube de Goa as Neville Albuquerque, Micky Vaz and Lalbabu Mahto made into the starting XI.
Dempo were the first to look at the goal when Nestor Dias made a brilliant cross to Kapil Hoble in the box but the winger’s header sailed over the crossbar.
Bardez should have taken the lead in the 26th minute when Clinton Niasso was in the commanding position with just rival keeper at the stake but his shot was blocked by the Dempo keeper Agnelo Gomes.
At the other end, Bardez keeper Aliston Fernandes came with an excellent save to deny Latesh Mandrekar’s sparkling shot, ball later rolled to Beevan but the striker saw his shot blocked by defender Neville.
After some probing attacks, Dempo finally surged ahead in the 45th minute when Mario Mascarenhas tapped the ball home from close after Nestor Dias fed him with a perfect header off Beevan’s corner.
Bardez regrouped at the breather as they came out all attacking in the second half and quickly found the leveller in the 54th minutes through Inacio Colaco as he headed in, the loose ball after Dempo defender Nickson Castanha came with the goalline clearance to deny substitute Chatur Naik from inside the box.
Dempo coach Samir brought in Joaquim Abranches replacing Latesh with the hopes from the lad but the striker wasted an easy chance to take his side ahead in the 64th minutes when he shot wide from close off Kapil’s inch-perfect cross from the right.
Four minutes later, Clinton Niasso put the Pink Brigade in the lead with a superb goal from inside the box as he banged the ball home after Subham Dessai smartly assisted him with a header.
Down by a goal, Dempo came all attacking a found the equaliser in the 1st minutes of the added time as substitute Jaison Vaz made no mistake to find the net with a clinical header to Shallum Pires’ perfect cross from the left.
However, the match did not end here as Chatur scored in the last minutes after Dempo keeper failed to collect Kirtikesh’s low cross, where Inacio got hold of the ball and released it to the onrushing striker who shot past keeper Agnelo to confirm all three points for the Pink Brigade.
