Shillong: Meghalaya's I-League debutante Rangdajied FC came from behind to hold former champions Dempo FC during their third round encounter played at the J N Stadium here today.
A nervous Rangdajied FC conceded two goals in the first half but rallied with confidence in the second half to share one point each after the match.
It was an unchecked Roberto Silva who scored the first goal of the match in the seventh minutes of the game. The home sides were caught nervous as they played at home with over 8000 crowd behind them and they were lucky not to take more goals.
Dempo FC's Billy Mehmed converted a penalty when Rangdajied Lamine Tamba was caught handed in the box area in the dying minutes of the first half.
Returning confident after the lemon break, Santosh Kashyap pushed in some winning mantra for the young boys and they proved it in the field.
T Lalnunpuia drew first blood for the home side in the 55th minute of the game even as the crowd cheered to boost their confidence.
Thereafter, it was no looking back as Rangdajied continued to pump in several opportunities which they failed to convert right within the Dempo FC box. The visitors were not in their best forms in the second half and this gave way for Rangdajied's to cash upon.
Sandesh Gadkari who replaced injured Eugeneson Lyngdoh headed a cross ball swiftly into the visitor's net to level the score in the 83rd minute.
Dempo's coach Mauricio Afonso said he was happy to take home one point as it was an away match. He said his players were not 100 per cent fit and that the team has to regroup and stage a comeback when they play Salgaogar on October 9.
Kashyap, on the other hand, complaint of bad decisions of referee Ranjit Bakshi after they were denied of a befitting penalty which could turn the game on their side. He however, expressed happiness to register a point in the table considering the fact that the boys were yet to ‘open' up.
The home side will play Churchill Brothers FC on October 10.
