MARGAO: Defender Keenan Almeida scored the crucial equalizer in the 82nd minute as FC Goa settled for a 1-1 draw against 10-man Atletico de Kolkata in the Hero Indian Super League match, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
The teams came confidently out of the tunnel after winning their opening marches. Zico named an unchanged line-up while Habas missed the services of marquee player Helder Postiga due to injury. Atletico de Kolkata introduced Izumi Arata and Denzil Franco as the two new faces.
In their past four meetings, FC Goa never defeated Atletico de Kolkata and all the expectations and cheers crashed in the 13th minute when Arata scored for the defending champions.
A throw in from Denzil saw Spaniard Javier Lara Grande send in a perfect cross from the right flank and the former India international finished with a spectacular volley past FC Goa custodian Elinton Andrade.
However, backed by the vociferous home support, The Gaurs started all over again. They managed to create chances but none so threatening that changed the scoreline before the break.
Leo Noura’s out of the box missed the target and Romeo followed the same fate in the 23rd minute.
The match sparked to life after the half hour mark when Debabrata Roy’s cross took a deflection off Denzil and found its way in the box but out of the reach of onrushing Reinaldo Da Cruz.
The drums kept rolling in the second session as Zico’s lads pushed forward in search of the equalizer.
The rivalry took its ugly turn at the hour mark after Atletico’s Baljit Sahni fouled Gregory Arnolin and was booked. However, Sahni head-butted the FC Goa centre-back in a moment of madness. Match referee Santosh Kumar consulted his assistant and showed Baljit his second yellow card followed by the inevitable red card.
Soon, Zico replaced medio Denson Devdas with Jonatan Lucca while keeper Andrade was replaced by Laxmikant Kattimani.
Minutes later, Zico used his third substitution as speedy Victorino Fernandes took charge on the right flank in place of Romeo Fernandes.
The changes brought life in the FC Goa attack and finally the moment all were waiting for arrived in the 82nd minute. Mandar crossed the ball from the left which was headed by Reinaldo. Lurking Keenan picked up the ball from outside the box and smashed it past Amrinder Singh to salvage a crucial draw.
