Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Salgaocar Juniors rallied strongly to hold St Savio’s SC, Calangute to a 2-2 draw in the GFA’s Geno First Division League, at Duler stadium, here, on Monday.
After Monday’s encounter, both the teams have 12 points after playing their eighth league match.
St. Savio’s were leading 2-1 at the breather through Richard Cardoz’s brace while Shawn Pereira and Pratamesh Satardekar got Calangute back on terms to split points.
It took seven minutes for Calangute to surge ahead when Richard Cardoz got hold off a pass from Aman Govekard, positioned himself and let go a firm grounder which had no answer by the Salgaocar keeper.
Jesloy muffed a golden sitter in the 21st minute to consolidate Calangute’s lead when he failed to find the back of the net from close range after being teed up by Richard Cardoz.
Stung by the early goal, Salgaocar had the first decent attempt in the 24th minute when Valentino Nazareth’s carpet drive was well kept out by a fully- stretched Calangute keeper Dietmar Fernandes.
It did not take long for Salgaocar to make it 1-1 when Shawn Pereira found the nets from a well taken corner kick by Aaron Rodrigues.
However, Richard Cardoz put Calangute ahead once again in the 31st minute with a power-packed shot from a pass delivered by Jesloy Moniz to make it 2-1.
Crossing ends, Salgaocar showed great strength to once get back on terms in the 58th minute through Pratamesh Satardekar after Calangute keeper Dietmar Fernandes made a mess of Velentino Nazareth cross in the danger box.
Calangute nearly wrapped up all three points when in the 87th minute a neat build up between Aman and Chaitan Dabholkar saw the ball fed in the path of Suraj Kauthankar who took a step and let go a cracking shot which went inches wide.
St Savio’s keeper Dietmar bravely left his guard to dispose Steflon D’Costa in a one-to-one situation in the process injuring himself and had to leave the field.
Richard Cardoz of StSavio’s received the man-of-the-match award from Marshal D’Souza, Manager of A A De Moira.
