DULER
Two self goals by their defenders saw Football Club de Bardez go down to Dempo Sports Club 2-0 in the 17th round match of the Goa Professional League organised by GFA, at Duler stadium, here on Saturday.
After the victory, Dempo continue to hold their second position with 31 points from 14 matches, while FC de Bardez stand in 8th position with 15 points from 13 matches.
FC de Bardez, having lost a couple of matches going into the match, saw their coach Armando Colaco bring five changes -- Krishnanath Shirodkar, Lalbabu Mahto and Joliston Rebello in the defence, Micky Vaz (midfield) and Clinton Niasso upfront. At the other end, Dempo after having been held by Panjim Footballers in their last league match, saw coach Samir Naik make three changes in his starting line-up -- Chandran, Beevan D’Mello and Neston Dias -- to find his team go into the breather with a one-goal cushion, off an own goal from Joliston Rebello.
In the very 3rd minute, the Golden Eagles would have taken the lead if Kapil Hoble had not fumbled with the ball inside the penalty box off a through pass from Joaquim Abranches. After some probing, Dempo colts scored off a self goal by Pink Brigade’s defender Joliston Rebello, who in the process of clearing the ball off Latesh Mandrekar’s cross saw his header land into his own goal, 1-0.
In the 34th minute, Dempo’s Kapil Hoble shot from inside the box went just over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Bardez had a chance to level terms. A header from Jessel Carneiro travelled to Inacio Colaco, whose header from close went out.
Another glorious opportunity for Pink Brigade went in vain as Clinton Niasso set up Micky Vaz, whose placement was superbly blocked by Dempo keeper Agnelo Gomes and the ball travelled to Clinton, who slotted the ball into the goal, but was ruled off-side by referee Mario Pereira.
On crossing ends, in the very 2nd minute, Desmond Pereira’s goal-bound cross from the left flank hit keeper David Chauhan’s hand and then the upright and went out for a corner. Minutes later, Kapil once again delayed to connect a cross from Joaquim Abranches after Latesh had sent a dummy to him.
Pink Brigade almost netted their equaliser in the 54th minute as a long ranger by Ronil Azavedo saw Dempo keeper retreat and tip the ball over the crossbar. The next 25 minutes of the match, the play was mostly restricted to midfield. Action intensified only in the last 10 minutes of the match.
A fine through pass by substitute Suraj Hadkonkar to Joaquim Abranches saw the latter’s placement miss the target narrowly. Just two minutes later, Suraj’s cross at the goal was headed by Bardez defender Krishnanath Shirodkar into his own goal, 2-0.
In the added-on time, Dempo’s Beevan D’Mello dribbled past an onrushing Bardez keeper David and then squared the ball to Joaquim, who to everyone’s disbelief, ballooned the ball wide.
PLAYING TODAY
Vasco SC vs Corps of Signals, Duler stadium, 4 pm
