Photo Courtesy: Khelnow.com
Goan FC is on top of the table of the Goa Professional League after a 4-2 win over Dempo SC. The fifth round also featured a goal in 36 seconds by Aman Govekar for Vasco SC, while Salgaocar struggled to beat Velsao. Churchill Brothers failed to beat Corps of Signals, while Sporting CD Goa and Guardian Angel registered wins.
Vasco’s Govekar shoot down Panjim in 36 seconds
A goal within 36 seconds helped Vasco SC beat Panjim Footballers 2-0 in the Goa Professional League match at the Duler Stadium.
Moments after the kickoff, Panjim keeper Sherwin Da Cunha failed to collect Shubham Malwankar’s curling cross. Aman Govekar was in the right place to strike from close range to give Vasco SC an early lead.
Vasco nearly doubled the lead in the 30th minute when a long ball from Moises D’Sa found Hussain. The ball was flicked to Schubert Pereira in the box but the striker’s poor touch allowed the Panjim defenders to clear the danger.
In the second half, Panjim came out all guns blazing. However, Vasco scored a second in the 52nd minute when midfielder Hussain headed in a cross from Rugved Yeole.
Vasco keeper, Sanju Thapa, denied Panjim on two occasions – first off a Vallmiky Miranda freekick, then on the 64th minute, Snedden Rodrigues’s shot was pushed for a corner. The Port Towners had opportunities of their own to extend the lead, but some wayward finishing ensured that the match ended at 2-0
Vasco SC is in fourth place with 8 points, while Panjim is on 2 points from three matches.
Salgaocar huff and puff to beat Velsao
Penalties and missed chances were the order of the day when Salgaocar FC beat Velsao Sports and Cultural Club by two goals to one at the Duler Stadium.
Velsao’s keeper, Preston Rego, had to make a save three minutes into the match when Salgaocar striker Ronaldo Oliveira fired the first salvo. Rego wasn’t so lucky in the 18th minute when Velsao’s defender, Krishna Shirodkar, headed the ball in his own goal while trying to clear a Sanson Pereira corner.
The lead was doubled in the 42nd minute when a Devendra Murgaonkar shot from the top of the box found the bottom right to make it 2-0 for the Port side.
After the break, Salgaocar continued to dominate the proceedings. Velsao had to thank Rego from keeping the scoreline down, especially in the 77th minute when Krishna brought down Devendra in the box. Sanson stepped up to the spot, but his shot was parried by Rego to limit the damage to his side.
At the other end, Velsao was awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute when Devendra handled the ball in the box. Veegan scored from the spot to reduce the margin for his side.
Salgaocar held on to claim three points to take their tally to 10 and into second place. As for Velsao, they are at the bottom of the table with one point after 5 matches.
Goan FC end Dempo’s unbeaten run
Goan FC broke Dempo Sports Club’s unbeaten run with a 4-2 win at the Duler stadium.
The Young Gaurs capitalized on Dempo’s sluggish start by scoring in the 12th minute. Imran Khan shot from a near-zero angle past Dempo goalkeeper Tyson Caiado to make it 1-0.
The goal woke up Dempo’s players. Captain Joaquim Abranches put Jessel Carneiro through on goal. Jessel passed it to Beevan for a tap-in who conspired to miss the open goal.
Goan FC doubled their lead in the 40th minute. A goalmouth scramble for the ball after a corner ended up with defender Meldon Silva nudging the ball past the Dempo defense. After the break, Goan FC stretched their lead further in the 70th minute. Sarineo Fernandes beat Tyson in a one-to-one situation to make it 3-0.
Dempo’s Jaison Vaz took the match by the scruff of the neck by scoring two goals in as many minutes (82nd & 83rd) for a blockbuster finish. Unfortunately for Vaz and Co, Adinga scored in injury time to seal an exciting 4-2 win.
The victory takes Goan FC to the top of the table with 13 points. Dempo dropped to third place with 10 points.
Sporting, Guardian Angel win; Churchill Brothers held
A 45th-minute strike by Marcus Mascarenhas ensured a 1-0 win for Sporting Clube de Goa over Calangute Association at the at Poriat Ground.
In a swift counter-attacking move, Calangute keeper Savio Paes was made to block Gaurav’s shot. The ball rolled to Mascarenhas who was left to tap the ball into the net to give his side the lead. The home crowd should have seen Calangute equalize in the 66th minute. Sachidanand Satelkar rode out a challenge and struck a daisy cutter which missed the post by inches.
Sporting moves to the fourth place with nine points, while Calangute has four points after the latest round of matches.
At the Navelim Ground, Guardian Angel came back strongly in the second half. Yakubu opened the scoring in the 69th minute. An FC Bardez own goal in the 88th minute condemned Bardez to a fourth loss in five matches.
Guardian ASC is unbeaten in four league matches so far.
Churchill Brothers SC salvaged a draw against determined Corps of Signals at the Utorda Ground.
Corps of Signals surprised the I-League team when Vishnu Chhetri put the Armymen into the lead in the eighth minute. After the break, Churchill Brothers they pressed their opponents with numbers. At the hour mark, a brilliant run into the box by Uttam Rai put the Signals goal under threat. The Signals keeper brought him down and the referee had to award a penalty.
Rai picked himself up, stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball past the keeper. The match ended 1-1 and the Red Machines will consider this as two points dropped.
Salgaocar vs Goan FC in Round 6
The opening fixture of Round 6 will feature Churchill Brothers’ visit to Bardez FC. The Red Machine will aim to compensate for the draw and gain 3 points against the bottom strugglers.
The following day, a three-pointer match between Panjim Footballers and Velsao SCC could help either club avoid relegation. Meanwhile, Corps of Signals will host Vasco Sporting Club.
Sporting CD Goa will host Guardian Angel SC at the Duler Stadium. Sporting will vie to keep pace with the table toppers.
The fixture to watch in the round is between Salgaocar FC and Goan FC at the Duler Stadium. The Young Gaurs are unbeaten in the league so far. Dempo SC will host Calangute Association to close out the round.
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