GPL 2019-20: Dempo, Panjim Footballers play out goalless draw

It was a day on which the back four held sway on both sides of the pitch.

Panjim Footballers managed to hold Dempo Sports Club to a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Dempo SC Academy Ground, at Ella –Old Goa, on Friday. In a keenly contested battle both sides were on equal footings from the first whistle. However, Panjim were first to test the keeper when Llyod Cardozo dribbled past Dempo defender Shallum Pires and on entering the box smashed a perfect shot but the effort had an equal answer from Dempo custodian Luis Barreto kept the ball out of the goal. At the other end, Dempo Sports Club almost broke the deadlock when Latesh on getting a pass in the box smashed a first time shot which hit the post and came back into the play. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Panjim Footballers managed to hold table topper Dempo SC for major part of the game and had a glorious opportunity to surge ahead when they were awarded a penalty just before the breather. Dempo SC defender Fulganco Cardozo fumbled at the back and Panjim’s Lloyd snatched the ball from the former FC Goa defender and entered the box only to see him brought down in the box by Luis Barreto. Akash stepped over but his poorly taken penalty kick was easily saved by the keeper Luis. In the second half, using his pace Suraj entered the box and too a aim at goal but his effort took a deflection off a Panjim Footballers player and was cleanly swallowed by the Panjim keeper Preston Rego. At the other end, Panjim’s Llyod once against tested Luis once again with a left foot strike which was punched towards safety by the keeper. Dempo SC came close to scoring in the second half when Suraj’s freekick found Beevan but the latter’s header narrowly missed the mark. Preston Rego came with a stunning save to deny Pedro whose header was in the frame off a Suraj’s effort. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="RELATED NEWS | ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] Dempo SC Latesh had a golden opportunity to score when Suraj sprayed the ball from the right flank which the Panjim Footballers’ defender mistimed his clearance attempt and the ball fell to Latesh, who with only the keeper at his mercy, shot wide.