I-League: Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa play out entertaining 2-2 draw

Sporting and Dempo’s players vie for the ball during their 2-2 draw

Dempo SC held Sporting Clube de Goa to an exciting 2-2 draw at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa. Haroon Fakhruddin scored the opening goal of the game for Dempo in the 23rd minute. Victorino Fernandes equalized at the stroke of half time and Odafa Okolie increased the lead in the 65th minute.

In the dying moments of the game, Afghan defender Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri completed his brace and save the day for Trevor James Morgan’s side.

Sporting Clube de Goa missed the services of Anthony Wolfe owing to an injury which the Trinidad and Tobago international suffered in the previous game. Odafa Okolie was accompanied by Indian forward Victorino Fernandes upfront.

Dempo started brightly but Sporting came roaring back in the first half

Dempo SC were looking the better side in the first half. They attacked in numbers and were much more compact. Trevor Morgan’s side drew first blood in the 23rd minute as Amiri headed home from a Dempo corner. Sporting goalkeeper Lalit Thapa made a schoolboyish error as he fumbled the ball, and Fakhruddin rightly punished his error.

Sporting Clube de Goa went on the attack ferociously after conceding the goal. Mahmoud Amnah got an opportunity to equalize minutes after the first goal, but his attempt went just wide.

Few minutes later, Odofa Okolie’s free-kick curled brilliantly but went just wide. Sporting Clube de Goa looked very positive and were desperate to score the equalizing goal. At the stroke of half time, Victorino headed home the all-important equaliser from Amnah’s cross. Haroon Amiri was at fault this time as he was out of position and couldn’t stop the goal.

Dempo hurt Sporting’s inefficient finishing with late equaliser in second half

The second half began on a dull note as none of the teams managed to open the other’s defence up, and the game was restricted to a midfield battle. Odafa Okolie finally scored the second goal in the 65th minute from Cajetan Fernandes’ corner.

The match was slowly slipping away from Dempo’s hands and they were looking pretty helpless and clueless on the ground. Sporting Clube de Goa could have scored a few more had their strikers been more clinical.

In the dying moments of the match, Amiri scored the crucial equaliser, in the 89th minute to be precise, to save Dempo’s face. Sporting Clube de Goa still have not registered their maiden I-League victory and struggle at the bottom of the league table.