PANAJI
Newcomers Young Boys of Tonca held defending champions Dempo SC to a goalless draw to earn their first point in the Goa Professional League at Duler Football Stadium, Mapusa, on Saturday.
The newly promoted side had lost their opening match 0-4 to Sesa FA but were a transformed unit against a strong Dempo outfit in their second game of the season.
In the first 20 minutes, table-toppers Dempo enjoyed a lot of ball possession but were finding it difficult to capitalise on any of their chances. YBT remained patient all this while and were trying to find their rhythm. YBT goalkeeper Sourav Chakraborty was at his best. In the 23rd minute, Dempo’s Necio Fernandes scooped the ball over the defender into the path of Vieri Colaco but Sourav left him frustrated with a block.
After the change of ends, YBT looked much more organised and had a good chance, only for El Minhao Kilong’s effort to sail over the crossbar. A few minutes later, Dempo’s Arnold Oliveira floated a freekick towards Pratik Naik, whose header missed the goal by inches. Subsequently, Arnold had a clear sight of goal after he dribbled past the YBT goalkeeper, only to miss in front of an open goal.
YBT were compact in their defence throughout the game and Dempo felt the pressure to score in the final quarter. Necio had two good chances but missed the target on both occasions.
