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Panjim Footballers Sports Club managed to come back from a goal down to hold Football Club de Bardez to a 1-1 draw in the seventh round match of the Goa Professional League, organised by Goa Football Association, played under floodlights at Duler Stadium, here on Friday.
It was the Pink Brigade that went into the breather with a one-goal lead. Skipper Jessel Carneiro scored in the 43rd minute, while Snedden Fernandes equalised for the Panjim Footballers in the 70th minute.
The match started at a very slow space in the first quarter of the match which was mostly restricted to midfield play, with the keepers from both the sides having a relaxing time. As the match progressed, the Bardez unit -- that had got past some top teams in the league -- regrouped themselves and came up with numerous attacks.
Dawson Fernandes had a glorious chance to put his team ahead when he got hold to a cross from skipper Jessel but shot wide. A few minutes later, Bardez's Inacio Colaco saw his blistering strike being swayed away for a corner by Panjim keeper Gurpreet Singh. Finally in the 43rd minute, Jessel put his side ahead when he strongly headed the ball into the goal off Inacio's perfect cross from the right, 1-0.
On crossing ends, Bardez colts' only chance in the entire second session was squandered by Shubham. In the 48th minute Shubham Dessai hoodwinked past Panjim defender Schubert D'Costa but failed to keep his shot inside the goal framework from just outside the six-yard box.
At the other end the Panaji side looked liked a transformed unit and came with a series of attacks on the rival citadel. Their best chance came in the 59th minute when Snedden dribbled past a host of rival defenders but his shot from just outside the box was superbly blocked by Bardez keeper Aliston Fernandes. Minute's later substitute Joston Cardoz shot wide from inside the box with just the rival keeper at his mercy.
The never-say-die spirit from Panjim saw them equalise in the 70th minute of play. Joston set up the ball to a well-positioned Snedden in the box, who made no mistake to slot the ball past the keeper, 1-1. The last quarter of the match was once again restricted to midfield, to see the teams return home with a point each added to their points tally.
