A late effort from the Afghan to add to his earlier goal ensured that Dempo got a point out of the Goan derby.
Sporting Clube de Goa drew 2-2 against Dempo SC in a bottom of the table I-League clash at the Fatorda stadium on Saturday afternoon. Victorino Fernandes (45'+2') and Odafa Okolie (67') got on the score sheet for Sporting but a brace from Haroon Amiri (23;, 89') saw the teams share the spoils.
The Flaming Oranje made six changes to their side. Goalkeeper Ravi Kumar was replaced by Lalit Thapa while Sandesh Jhingan, Jovel Martins, Pratesh Shirodkar, Cajetan Fernandes and Victorino Fernandes replaced Chandrashekar Chinta, Rojen Singh, Creson Antao, Alber Gonsalves and Anthony Wolfe.
Meanwhile, Nirmal Chettri, Clifford Miranda and Peter Carvalho were replaced in Dempo's starting line-up by Haroon Amiri, Jewel Raja and Sushil Kumar.
Dempo started on the front foot and were on top during the opening exchanges. They created the first chance in the 10th minute when Jewel Raja found himself in space inside the box. He hesitated though and his eventual shot was blocked by Jovel Martins.
Five minutes later, Odafa Okolie headed a Velito D'Cruz cross at the other end but Dempo goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani was on hand to make an easy save.
Velito then initiated a Sporting attack in the 20th minute, playing in Odafa. The Nigerian threaded a through ball for Victorino, but the latter miscued his shot under pressure from Calum Angus.
Dempo made the break through in the 23rd minute courtesy of a goalkeeping howler. Jewel Raja's corner from the right was nodded in by Amiri after Sporting's Lalit Thapa failed to grasp the delivery which fell for the midfielder.
Two minutes later, Mahmoud charged down the right wing all the way into the Dempo penalty area but his powerful shot at the end could only find the side-netting.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Victorino Fernandes pulled his side level. Angus was unable to stop Mahmoud from delivering a cross and Victorino managed to dart in ahead of Amiri to bury his header, making it 1-1 going into the break.
The second half began slowly but just after the hour mark, Nazary should have put his side ahead. He took way too long to pull the trigger after being beautifully set up by Alwyn George. The Dempo substitute's eventual shot was blocked by Clemente Joseph.
Odafa Okolie then put Sporting ahead in the 68th minute. The Nigerian goalmachine found the back of the net with his head from Cajetan Fernandes' corner to make it 2-1 in his team's favour.
However, it was Amiri who had the final say through a beautifully worked move by Dempo. Gabriel initiating the attack, passing it to Amiri. The Afghan released Francis on the right and heads in the return cross to restore parity in the 89th minute.
The late effort proved to rescue a point for Dempo as the game ended 2-2 with both sides still rooted to the bottom of the table.
