Marcus, Aubin score a goal each in 2-2 draw for Golden Eagles
Fatorda: Dempo Sports Club kicked off their Indian Football League campaign with a 2-2 draw against Real Kashmir FC at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
The hosts fashioned the first real chance when Sebastian Gutierrez swung in a corner from the right that found Richmond Owusu unmarked. His header, however, bounced off the ground and cleared over the crossbar. Real Kashmir responded through Shedrack Charles, who burst into the box and flashed a low cross across goal, but there was no one to turn it home.
Gutierrez remained influential and tested Abdul Kadir with a driven effort from the edge of the area, forcing the goalkeeper into a solid save. Play was then halted in alarming circumstances after Dempo captain Ariston Costa was knocked unconscious by an elbow from Sanatomba Singh, who was shown a yellow card as medical staff and an ambulance attended to the midfielder.
When action resumed, Marcus Joseph tried from distance but Kadir was equal to the task. The visitors seized the initiative in stoppage time of the first half as captain Mohammad Imam beat his marker on the right and curled a precise finish into the far corner to hand Kashmir the lead.
Dempo hit back before the interval. Owusu collected a through pass inside the box and was brought down by Kadir, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Joseph converted from the spot to make it 1-1 at the break.
The turnaround was completed early in the second half when Gutierrez delivered a curling free-kick into the area and Aubin Kouakou rose above his marker to head home. But the advantage was short-lived. Kouakou’s failure to clear a long ball allowed Shedrack Charles to capitalise, and the forward calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to restore parity.
Dempo pushed forward in the closing minutes in search of a winner, yet the Kashmir defence stood resolute, ensuring both sides settled for a point.
