PANAJI: Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League witnessed a cracker of a game as Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo Sports Clube shared the spoils in a eight-goal thriller at Duler stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Uttam Rai scored a first half hat-trick before Desmon Pereira added the fourth as the Golden Eagles led 4-2 at the break with Gaurav Kankonkar and Kunal Kundaikar scoring for the Flaming Oranje. In the second half, Sporting Clube de Goa scored two more through Gaurav and Joel to snatch a draw while Dempo SC were reduced to 10 men after Kirtikesh received the marching orders.
Sporting Clube de Goa took an early lead in the 5th minute and it came from a well executed set-piece. Myron Fernandes whipped in a perfect cross in the box from a short corner where Akeraj Martins flicked the ball at the far post. Gaurav Kankonkar who was unmarked, nodded home to give the Flaming Oranje an early advantage.
But the joy was short-lived as Dempo levelled the terms in the 8th minute and it was Shallum Pires who played a long pass where Uttam Rai was set through on goal. With just the keeper to beat, Uttam slotted the ball home with a low finish.
Dempo SC were awarded a penalty in the 10th minute when Sporting Clube defender Joel handled Pedro Gonsalves’ flicked pass in the area. Uttam made no mistake to score despite Ozen Silva diving in the right direction.
Sporting nearly got the equaliser in the 13th minute from a corner as Alton Vaz’s header struck the crossbar.
Dempo SC scored their third goal in the 27th through Desmon Pereira. Uttam Rai sent a lobbed ball in the area, where Sporting Clube defence failed to clear and Desmon nodded in from behind, giving no chance to Ozen Silva.
Uttam Rai completed his hat-trick in the 29th minute where he guided in Desmon’s flicked pass.
The action-filled first session saw yet another turn of events as Sporting Clube de Goa substitute Philip Odogwu was brought down in the box by Dempo’s Shallum Pires. Kunal Kundaikar slammed his penalty kick into the roof of the net to pull another back for Sporting.
Dempo SC were reduced to 10 men at the hour-mark when Kirtikesh Gadekar received the marching orders for his second booking of the evening. From the resultant free-kick Sporting Clube de Goa capitalised when Gaurav’s free-kick was blocked by Melroy Fernandes however the ball rolled to Joel, who slotted home to make it 3-4.
Gaurav Kankonkar scored a cracker of a goal in the 68th minute to make it 4-4 and get Sporting Clube de Goa back in the game. Philip had a chance to put Sporting Clube ahead but he squandered a glorious opportunity to score from the face of the goal when he headed Myron’s delivery over the bar. Sporting had the chance to bury the game but Philip muffed up the chances.
