MAPUSA: Victorino Fernandes turned saviour for Sporting Clube de Goa yet again as the India international came off the bench to cancel out Joy Ferrao’s goal in a 1-1 draw against Dempo Sports Club, in Goa Football Association’s Goa Professional League round two football match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday. Dempo led 1-0 at half time.
The Pro League resumed after a two-day gap and the Panjim derby attracted a decent Sunday crowd. The Golden Eagles were superior in the first session and deserved to take the lead in the 17th minute through Joy. However, Sporting Clube did equally well in the second session to crawl their way back into the match. They were certainly inspired by the substitution of Victorino, who came in place of Anto Xavier in the second session and the striker nodded in a delightful half volley past Dempo custodian Laxmikant Kattimani, four minutes from the regulation time.
Sporting Clube started with a familiar first eleven that drew 1-1 in their opening match against Salgaocar Football Club, thanks to a 68th minute equalizer by Victorino that time.
This was the seasons fourth draw result after seven matches. Dempo lead the standings with four points while Sporting Clube have two points and are in the third position.
At the other hand, Fulganco Cardozo made his debut for Dempo in the centre-back position.
Sporting Clube were edgy in midfield and in the 17th minute they were guilty of losing the ball after tremendous pressure from rival right wing-back Prabir Das. The ball fell to Sporting Clube’s Pablo Zurera but the Spanish lost his balance, allowing Dempo front man Holicharan Narzary an open entry into the rival territory. The Dempo striker kept his composure and generously fed onrushing Joy, who finished clinically past Sporting Clube custodian Melroy Fernandes, 1-0.
Five minutes later, The Flaming Oranje did have an opportunity to level terms but Beevan D’Mello’s close range header was fisted away by Kattimani.
Sporting Clube looked lively in the second session with Sumit Ghosh coming close to score with free-kicks on two occasions. First, which was blocked by the rival custodian and the next which sailed inched over the horizontal bar.
Subsequently, Velito Cruz tried from 35-yards out but his power-packed also missed the target narrowly as Sporting Clube continued to attack.
Dempo were heading to their second win but a perfect cross by Sporting Clube’s Jovel Martins in the 86th minute changed that.
The ball sailed over the rival defence and found Victorino, who easily half volleyed past the helpless Kattimani, 1-1.
