Taleigao hold Dempo to draw in GPL

Pramod Mardolkar's opener was cancelled out by Adil Khan...

Sao Minguel De Taleigao managed to hold mighty Dempo SC to a 1-1 draw in the Goa Pro League match played at Duler Stadium earlier today. Taliegao went into the breather with a one goal lead. Dempo dominated the major part of the match. Five minutes into the match, Joaquim wasted an early chance to take Dempo into the lead, Dempo's U-20 player Kapil Hoble set up a brilliant pass to Joaquim who dribbled past one defender and shot it on target but Taleigao keeper Rohan Sheikh pushed it wide for a corner. In the very next minute Dempo wasted another chance, Hoble’s header from close range sailed over the crossbar. Next Joaquim produced a curving cross from the corner of the box. Ten minutes later Dempo’s newly signed midfilder Adil Khan came up with a perfect cross to Felix Odili Chidi, but Taleigao keeper Sheikh made no mistake to clear it on time. In the 19th minute Kapil again made an individual run from the halfway line into the rival’s box but failed to give power to his shot. At the other end Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao took the lead in the 28th minute. Levino Pereira set up a long ball but Dempo’s custodian Tyson Caiado made a mistake while trying to clear it. Taking advantage of the free ball Taleigao skipper Pramod Mardolkar shot into the net to give his side the lead.. In first half added time, Dempo’s Hayden Fernandes was unlucky as his shot from inside the box rebounded off the crossbar. After the break Dempo were the dominant side. In the very first minute Kapil failed to connect from close range after receiving a perfect cross from Nickson Castanha. A minute later Milagres Gonsalves missed a sitter. A curling cross from Chidi saw unmarked Milagres but his header was easily collected by the keeper. In the 48th minute German Preet Singh’s shot hit the post .A minute later he tried his luck from distance but this time the crossbar denied his effort. Finally in the 65th minute Dempo leveled the score through Adil Khan, His half volley from inside the box finished in tgw opposition’s net. Substitute Aniston Fernandes was the architecture of the goal. In the closing minutes Dempo tried hard to find the winner but every time Taleigao’s defense stayed strong. Taleigao’s Coach-cum-player Levino Pereira who played almost 70 minutes of the match was happy with his team's performance and said, “I am very happy. Before the match we were rated as a low team but we took one point from Dempo that’s very big for us” The 43-year-old further added, “I have to start for next match but it all depends on my fitness level. At this age I am giving my best and rest in on God” Tomorrow’s Fixture: Sporting Clube de Goa vs Churchill Brothers at Duler Stadium, at 4.00 p.m.