PANAJI
Dempo Sports Club and Salgacoar FC played out a goalless draw in the AIFF Under-15 Youth League at Rosary grounds, Navelim on Monday. The draw leaves both the teams with 4 points, sending Dempo SC to top of the table on superior goal difference.
Salgaocar FC started the match on the front foot, totally dominating Dempo in the opening quarter with Ribhav and Flan Gomes creating constant threats to their opponents. On the other side of the pitch, Dempo’s Nikil Gurang and Kidron Fernandes had to defend for major part of the play to deny the Salgaocar lads a lead in the first half.
Crossing ends, Dempo SC made some tactical changes that saw the Golden Eagles then take control of the match. Dempo missed the golden opportunity to take the lead in the 50th minute when Malcolm Gonsalves headed Aaron Alvares’ cross straight to the keeper. Moments later, Green’s Frezer Gomes’ shot missed the target by a whisker when the former was played a long through ball by Aswin Fernandes from his own half, breaking Dempo's offside trap.
Dempo keeper Aston D’Souza turned the savior for the team as he denied Aaron Barreto from a freekick with a spectacular save. Dempo’s Boris D’Mello made stunning runs upfront from the back but lacked support from his teammates.
In the final stages of the match, both the teams missed clear opportunities to break the deadlock. First, Dempo’ Priston Carvalho’s close range shot was well saved by Salgaocar keeper Antonio Dylan D’Silva. At the other end, Dempo’s Lesley Rebello made a goalline clearance off a Salgaocar freekick in the added-on time.
