MARGAO
Santa Cruz Society of Poitomado came from behind to hold Carmel Sports Club 4-4 draw in the Salcete Zone GFA Third Division League at SAG Artificial Turf ground, Fatorda on Sunday.
In a thrilling encounter, both the teams showed attacking intent and a result there were plenty of thrills at either end. Carmel Sports Club sounded the warning early in the game when striker
Royston Coutinho unleashed a snap shot but Poitomado goalkeeper was equal to the task to avert the danger.
Both set of defenders provided little room for rival forwards but Carmel Sports Club broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Danstan Fernandes sped past the rival defenders and slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot.
Post resumption, the action turned livelier with both the teams upping the ante. St Cruz Society of Poitomado mounted pressure and their efforts bore the fruit in the 50th minute as Trenoy Dias punished the rival goalkeeper with a neat finish to put his team on equal terms.
The see-saw battle continued and Carmel SC managed to regain the lead as Laxman Thapa scored in the 58th minute. Stunned by the lead, St Cruz Society of Poitomado went into the attacking mode and striker Sertorio Monteiro, who was in his elements, levelled the scores in the 61st minute.
In the 74th minute, Sertorio Monteiro made it 3-2 as he scored his brace. Stung by the reversal, Carmel reacted well and scored two goals in two minutes. Laxman Thapa scored his second to make it 3-3 before Royston Coutinho gave them the lead in the 78th minute.
Just when it looked the Carmel Sports Club were heading for a win, Sertorio Monteiro made no mistake in punting the ball home in the 80th minute. His hat-trick ensured St Cruz Society of Poitomado splits points with
Carmel SC.
At St John the Baptist Dando ground, Benaulim, St Rock's Youth Club, Calata Majorda gained a walkover over Carmona Sports Club as the latter didn't turn up
for the match.
