Peter Carvalho scored a late goal to help Dempo hold an erratic East Bengal 1-1 in their round four I-League fixture here on Saturday.
Backed by a boisterous home crowd, it was a listless outing by the last-year’s runners up as they missed many chances, even as a refereeing decision went in favour of them.
East Bengal led through a 32nd minute Edeh Chidi spot kick, a decision by referee Ajit Meetei which was later challenged by Dempo coach Armando Colaco.
In fact, Colaco had luck going the other way as his team was denied a penalty in the 56th minute when Ryuji Sueoka was brought down after a tussle with Saumik Dey but the referee thought it otherwise.
The situation led to Meetei being mobbed and shoved by Dempo players as he booked Sueoka for diving. “Indian football can’t go forward with such type of refereeing. It was a definite penalty,” Colaco said.
In the 27th minute, Orji Penn was brought down inside the box by Mahesh Gawli as East Bengal grabbed the lead with Chidi’s spotkick.
After the changeover, Dempo pressed for an equaliser bringing in Koko Sakibo in place of Clifford Miranda. Finally, luck smiled on the Goans when Cresen Antao set it up for Carvalho from Joaquim Abranches’ corner, resulting in the much-needed equaliser which came in the 82nd minute.
Salgaocar edge Mumbai
Salgaocar SC rode on a ninth-minute goal from Francis Fernandes to edge past Mumbai FC 1-0 in the day’s second game at Pune.
The win took Salgaocar up to seventh position from 11th. Mumbai FC are yet to open their account.
