MAPUSA: Dempo Sports Club rallied back strongly to hold Salgaocar Football Club to a 2-2 draw in the ongoing GFA’s Goa Professional League, at Duler stadium, here on Wednesday.
It was a precious point for Dempo as they retained the top spot but it was surprising that being Labour Day all over the country, GFA headquarters thought it right to play the GPL match with two top teams in the ongoing league take on each other with just 22 paid spectators attending the match.
One minute silence was observed for the departed soul of GFA’s founder member Martinho D’Souza.
Salgaocar were left shell shocked as they were cruising by two goals at half time through Denil Rebello (8th min) and Ribhav Sardessai (35th min) but Dempo fought back in the second half and made it 2-2 through Joaquim Abranches and Jessel.
Dempo started the proceeding positively and should haveforged ahead in the seventh minute but Pedro Gonsalves who was beautifully found by Joaquim Abranches could not get past the keeper from close range.
Salgaocar responded back with a goal in the next minute when Ronaldo whipped in a low cross across the face of the goal which found Denil Rebello who without any delay slammed the ball into the net.
The ball was mostly confined to the midfield for the next half hour with the Green Brigade consolidating their lead in the 35th minute through Ribhav Dessai who calmly beat the advancing Dempo keeper Tyson with neat footwork after Sanson Pereira had done the spadework to make it 2-0.
Trailing by two goals, Dempo began the second half with more urgency and made it 2-1 in the 64th minute through Joaquim Abranches who hoodwinked the Salgaocar defense and placed the ball into the far corner of the net after being put through by Kirtikesh.
Salgaocar were unlucky not to have their two-goal cushion back when Ronaldo’s long range hit the post and went out.
Dempo finally got the much-needed goal in the 75th minute in an unfamiliar fashion when Jessel’s cross hit defender Saurabh Patel and entered the goal leaving no chance to the keeper to equalise 2-2.
Dempo almost wrapped up full three points in the 89th minute when Joaquim Abranches unleashed a fierce shot which was almost nestling into the net but Salgaocar keeper dived full stretch to keep it out.
There was still time for Joaquim Abranches to seal the match in Dempo’s favour in the closing minutes but his shot from the danger box went inches over the post from a pass provided by Jessel.
