Beneston Barretto's double earn a point for Dempo against Sporting Goa in GPL Super League

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The thrilling encounter also witnessed three Red cards as Dempo's keeper Dylan Da Silva and Vieri Colaco were sent off, while Sporting's Nickson Castanha was also given marching orders in the first session.

Beneston Barretto scored a last-gasp equalizer as Dempo Sports Club scripted a thrilling 2-2 draw against Sporting Club de Goa in the CAM Goa Professional League (SuperLeague) at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Tuesday.

Earlier Beneston had given Dempo SC the lead in the 8th minute before seeing two of their players, keeper Dylan D’Silva and Vieri Colaco, being sent off with straight red. Sporting Clube also had a man down after Nickson Castanha received double bookings in the first session. Stendly Fernandes equalized just before the breather. Crossing over, Joel Colaco gave Sporting Clube the lead, before Beneston earned a hard-fought point scoring in the dying minutes of the game.

Dempo SC stayed on top with 27 points from 14 games while Sporting Clube remained in second spot with 26 points from the same outings.

The Golden Eagles scored from the first real chance of the game when he was set through on goal and Beneston Barretto calmly placed the ball in the far right corner with a clean finish.

Dempo SC were reduced to 10 men after the keeper brought down a Sporting clube de Goa player in a one-on-one situation outside the box. Later Sporting Clube de Goa Nickson Castanha and Dempo’s Vieri Colaco saw red for rough play.

Sporting Clube de Goa made it all square just before the breather, when Stendly Fernandes, on receiving a long pass from the midfield, lobbed it over the rival keeper, 1-1. Later, Stendly Fernandes had a shot on goal, but it narrowly missed the mark.

Crossing over, Sporting Clube de Goa took the lead in the 52nd minute when Joel Colaco headed in a Velito Cruz corner kick. At the hour mark, Sporting Clube de Goa’s Stendly Fernandes tried his luck from a distance but his effort was saved by the keeper.

In the 75th minute, Beneston nearly found the equalizer but his tap in from a Pedro Gonsalves cross saw his effort being brilliantly saved by the Sporting keeper Bhaskar Jalmi. At the other end Sporting had the chance to seal the game but Dempo keeper Wellyster Mendes made a fine save to deny Marcus Mascarenhas. Later Marcus played a cutback pass to Stendly who shot wide.

Dempo were handed a chance to equalize when Clive committed an unnecessary foul just outside the box. Suraj Hadkonkar stepped up and fired a perfect freekick which received an equal answer from Sporting keeper Jalmi.

However, the goal finally arrived in stoppage time when the Sporting Clube de Goa defence failed to deal with a long ball, which was pushed in the goal by Beneston who completed his brace.

Beneston Barretto was named the player of the match and the award was presented by ATK Mohun Bagan player Glan Martins.

Guardian Angel secure comeback victory over Velsao SCC

In another match at played at Nagoa Panchayat Ground, Guardian Angel SC defeated Velsao SCC in a five-goal thriller of the Relegation League.

Velsao SCC led 1-0 at the break, thanks to the goal from Meuton Fernandes. In the second half, Velsao SCC doubled the lead in the 55th minute through Velroy Carvalho.

Guardian Angel SC put up a strong display and scored thrice to record a comeback win. Joel Barreto netted first and then Shubham Jena made it all square in the 73rd minute, before Bamba Musah scored the match-winner in the 79th minute.

Guardian Angel SC moved to 10 points from 12 games while Velsao SCC remained on 11 points from 13 games.