Devendra’s brace as Salgaocar force Dempo to stalemate in Goa Pro League

Jessel Carneiro once again played a crucial role for the Golden Eagles.

Salgaocar FC came from two goals down to hold Dempo Sports Club to an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Dempo coach Samir Naik made no changes to his side which earned him full points against Velsao SCC in the last match, whereas, Salgaocar had four changes following a narrow defeat at the hands of Sporting Clube de Goa in the last match as Godfray Mascarenhas was back in the lineup, while, their coach Levino Pereira included goalkeeper S. Rajini Kumar, midfielder Saeesh Halaenkar and U-20 defender Shawn Pereira in the starting XI.

Dempo had a great start to the match as after continues attacks, the Golden Eagles managed to surge ahead in the 11th minute when Desmon Pereira made a short pass to Jessel Carneiro who covered some ground and stricken from the distance which crashed into the back of the nylons making it 1-0 for the Panjim based club.

A few minutes later, Velito Cruz had an opportunity to double the lead for Dempo when he easily cut past few opponents to enter the box but his fierce shot from missed the target by hairline distance.

At the other end, Salgaocar also had few opportunities to level back but Ronaldo Oliveira, Devendra Murgaonkar and Rollwin Almeida were brilliantly kept at the bay by Dempo defence led by Mathew Gonsalves along with Olan Chandran, Clive Colaco and Naveen Mendes.

Dempo had another opportunity to inflate their lead in the last minutes of the session when Salgaocar custodian Kumar brought down Beevan D’Mello just outside the box but Jessel saw his curling freekick miss the target by a whisker.

However, Dempo doubled their lead within four minutes after resuming the play in the second session as Jessel made a superb run on the wing and beat Salgaocar keeper with his last touch from inside the box but his shot was missing the target where Joaquim Abranches tapped the ball home from close to make it 2-0 for the Golden Eagles.

Salgaocar reduced the margin in the 55th minutes when their striker Ronaldo snatched the ball from Dempo midfielder Desmon and made a darting run from the halfway line. The lad later unselfishly passed to well-placed Devendra in the box who made a simple touch making it 2-1 for his side.

ALSO READ

• Exclusive: Shillong Lajong rope in former academy graduates for I-League

• ISL Indian TOTW 5: Rising stars Soosairaj and Thatal prove their mettle on big stage

• India announce squad for 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers Round One

Four minutes later, Samuel Costa was unlucky not to make it all square for Salgaocar as his powerful strike from distance hit the top left before going out for a goal-kick.

Energized by a goal, Salgaocar came out all attacking, however, most of their raids were cut shorted Dempo custodian Tyson Caido. In few of these, first, Ronaldo brilliantly cut past three defenders in the box and shot on the goal but his strike was superbly pushed for a corner by Tyson. Later, he made a breath-taking save to deny Salgaocar defender Godfray in one-on-one.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

Dempo also had a chance to once again restore their two-goal lead in the 77th minute when substitute Surja Hadkonkar found Velito with a curling cross from the right but Salgaocar shot-stopper Kumar made a diving save to limit the damage of his side.

When it was looking like, the host will take all three points, Devendra rescued a point for his side in the added time when he brilliantly headed in, off Sanson Pereira’s perfect cross in the box.