MAPUSA: Ronil Azavedo’s strike in the 95th minute helped Velsao SCC to hold joint winners Churchill Brothers FC Goa to a 2-2 draw in the Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium, here, on Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s drawn encounter, Churchill Brothers has 14 points while Velsao SCC has 8 points.
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With the conclusion of I-League, Red Machine coach Armando Colaco enforced his side by fielding two players Kingslee Fernandes-midfield and Shubert Pereira-striker from the I-League squad while Velsao SCC incharge Jude Barreto brought five changes in his Starting XI.
Early in the match, Churchill had their first good look at the rival goal where Bersal Viegas set up Kingslee inside the penalty box whose grounder at the first post was blocked by keeper Presley Mascarenhas for a corner.
In the very next minute, Velsao’s Ronil Azavedo tried to gain control of the ball inside the danger zone only to find Churchill’s Asif Molla clear the ball to safety.
In the 18th minute, a clumsy push by Churchill’s Asif on Joseph Pereira inside the 18-yard box did not escape the eyes of referee Prasad Surlakar who pointed to the dreaded spot. Brian Mascarenhas stepped forward and fired to the left top corner of the goal to give his side the lead.
After next 24 minutes of midfield tussle, Red Machine surprised their opponents with an equaliser. A weak shot from outside the penalty box by Shubert Pereira was not cleanly collected by keeper Presley Mascarenhas to find overlapping U20 Jobern Cardozo tap the ball into the unguarded goal to make it 1-1.
Just four minutes into the second session, Red Machine should have taken the lead when substitute Franky Oliveira collected a through pass from Kingslee drove a scorching left footer which was brilliantly blocked by keeper Presley.
Red Machine did not have to wait for long where a cross by Shubert in the 52nd minute to unmarked Jobern Cardozo at the far post saw the latter connect the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Velsao lost a glorious chance to level terms in the 63rd minute where Joseph Pereira’s lob over the on rushing keeper Debnath was excellently cleared on the goal-line by Asif Molla.
When it looked that Red Machine were on their way to collect full three points, Velsao scored a gem of a goal to restore parity in the 95th minute when Brian Mascarenhas long free-kick into the box hit the defenders leg and the ball came to Ronil Azavedo whose connected a volley which crashed into the backof the nylons to make it 2-2.
