BENFICA kept alive their slim hopes of a place in next season’s Digicel Premier League (DPL) competition after twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Cavalier at the UWI Bowl yesterday for their first point of the campaign.

Locksley Thompson (32nd and 81st minutes) netted both of Cavalier’s goals, while Craig Gordon (75th) and Brian Wollaston (82nd) scored for Benfica.

However, the race for the two spots remain wide open after leaders Reno were also held to a 2-2 draw by Meadows at Frome Complex.

After the first round of matches, Reno lead the standings with seven points, followed by Cavalier and Meadows with four points, with Benfica at the bottom on one.

After hitting the crossbar through Donovan Alvaranga early in the first half, and then coming close through Locksley Thompson, the host took the lead just past the half-hour mark when the pint-sized Thompson got between two defenders and redirected Robert Coley’s cross past Donovan Hynes in goal.

Cavalier continued to have the better of the chances leading up to the break and Alvaranga nearly added to their tally with a stinging strike that was parried by Hynes.

Thompson then eluded two Benfica defenders before dragging his shot just wide of the target from inside the area.

But they were made to pay for those misses in the 75th when Gordon was left unmarked on top of the area and he unleashed a vicious shot into the roof of the net to tie the score at 1-1.

But the home team regained the lead five minutes later when Roger Knight impeded Alvaranga inside the box and Thompson slotted home the resulting kick to put Cavalier 2-1 up.

However, Benfica — who had not scored in their opening two matches — got their second of the afternoon just a minute later.

After Brissett was taken down on the right side, former Waterhouse forward Wollaston stepped up and dispatched a powerful curling free-kick off his left boot into the far corner, giving goalkeeper Everdean Scarlett little chance.

As both teams pressed for the winner in the closing minutes, Alvaranga had the best chance for a goal. However, he swept his effort over the bar from close range after Thompson had headed Demetrio Billet’s cross into his path.

Cavalier’s coach Lamar Morgan said his team lapsed defensively. “At this level if you can’t defend two goals it don’t make sense… we should have defended much better,” he rued.

On the contrary, Benfica’s president Tyrone Rose was elated with his club’s first point of the play-offs.

“We’re on the road and we got a point and I appreciate that and the team fought well,” he said.

“We came for a win and leave with a draw, but we have two more home matches and we hope to get six points from those matches… and build on what we did here,” he added.

— LScott & S Dias