MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar Football Club played a 1-1 draw in GFA’s Goa Professional League, round one match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Tuesday. Salgaocar led 1-0 at half time.
Douhou Pierre put The Green Brigade ahead in the first session, just before the lemon break but Victorino Fernandes equalized for the Panjim-outfit in the 68th minute after Anto Xavier failed to convert a penalty for Sporting Clube in the 52nd minute.
The teams went head-to-head in the opening sessions but what divided them in the first session was a delightful strike by Douhou Pierre, just three minutes before the lemon break. The Ivorian scored from 25-yards out with a curling powerful right-footer which found the top left corner of the rival goal as Sporting Clube keeper Melroy Rodrigues could only wave the ball goodbye.
In the initial stages, Salgaocar created the first threat when a Thangjam Singh flag-kick created confusion in the danger zone but Augustin Fernandes could not pull the trigger in time.
Subsequently, Sporting Clube got into a rhythm and almost scored but Beevan D’Mello’s close ranger was blocked by keeper Karanjit. The ball rebounded to Mauvin Borges but the striker ballooned over from an ideal position.
Post resumption, Sporting Club got a life-line when referee Maria Rebello awarded them a penalty after Mauvin Borges was brought down in the danger zone by Salgaocar defender Pawan Kumar.
Sporting Clube’s Anto Xavier stepped up for the resultant spot-kick but his effort was brilliantly saved by Green and Whites custodian Karanjit Singh in the 52nd minute.
Subsequently, Salgaocar could have doubled their advantage but Augustin Fernandes’ header off a flag-kick sailed inches over the horizontal bar.
Sporting Clube were desperate in search of the equalizer and coach Oscar Bruzon worked his magic by introducing Victorino Fernandes.
Soon, they equalized in the 68th minute as the India international intercepted a poor back-pass by Pawan Kumar and finished clinically past helpless Karanjit, 1-1.
The teams tried hard to score the match-winner but couldn’t succeed.
