Goa Professional League Roundup – Matchday 8

Goan FC maintained their spot at the top of Goa Professional League with a resounding win over Calangute Association.

Sporting Clube de Goa also registered a big win over Vasco Sports Club, while Velsao SCC and Corps of Signals played out a high scoring thriller. Dempo and Churchill Brothers played out a 0-0 draw, while the match between Panjim Footballers and Bardez FC also remained goalless.

Goan FC thump Calangute Association

Goan FC came from behind to beat Calangute Association 5-2 in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.

The Young Gaurs started the match on commanding note before taking the lead in the 17th minute. A through ball from Nestor Dias split open the rival defense. Imran Khan received the pass, covered some distance before putting his team ahead.

Calangute who were on the back foot for most of the first half found the equalizer in the added time through Akash Sanadi after a well-constructed move. A minute later, Goan FC fell behind Mohammed fizzed in a dangerous-looking ball and defender Meldon D’Silva turned the ball into his own net.

Calangute Association 2 – Goan FC 1 at the break.

On resumption, Goan FC leveled the score in the 46th minute when Kapil Hoble headed in Liston’s cross from the left flank. Meldon D’Silva made amends for his error by putting his team into the lead in the 71st minute. He headed in a cross sent in by Princeton.

Minutes later, Kapil Hoble completed his brace with a simple in tap after being set up the substitute, Aaron D’Silva. The rout was complete in the 85th minute when Aaron D’Silva scored to make it 5-2.

The Young Gaurs are on 20 points at the top of the table, while Calangute are 11th with four points.

10-men Panjim Footballers hold on to a goalless draw

Bardez FC could not take advantage of 10-man Panjim Footballers in their 0-0 draw at the Duler Stadium. More than the expected goalmouth action, the match featured five yellow cards and a red card.

A barren first half led into a second half where both teams lacked urgency. In the 59th minute, Panjim Footballers’ Prasil Kankonkar was sent off for his second bookable offense.

Despite being a man down the Panjim Footballers defense held on for 30 minutes to walk away with a point. The result left both teams just above the relegation spot with Bardez on 5 points, while Panjim is on 4 points.

Stalemate between Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers

Dempo SC and Churchill Brother played to gain three points to catch up with table toppers Goan FC.  The teams put up an attacking display but just could not find the crucial goal

Churchill Brothers looked more threatening in the initial phase when they fashioned two chances to break the deadlock. Cavin Soares and Cyrus Noronha unable to find the back of the net. Dempo SC responded through Jessel Carneiro. A smart save by Churchill keeper Kunzang Bhutia denied Dempo from taking the lead.  

After the break, Churchill Brother coach Norbert Gonsalves subbed in Cheterpaul Lyngdoh and Uttam Rai for the breakthrough.

Dempo’s keeper Tyson Caido denied new recruit, Anthony Wolfe from Trinidad & Tobago in the 60th minute. Wolfe was unlucky to not score on debut when his shot from close range hit the crossbar.

Dempo SC almost stole the winner in added time. Pedro Gonsalves could not direct his header goalward from a cross by Joaquim Abranches. Much to the huge relief of the Churchill Brothers team.

The draw left the two teams trailing the league leaders by six and seven points.

Sporting Clube de Goa hammer Vasco SC

Sporting Clube de Goa thumped Vasco Sports Club 5-1 at the Duler Stadium. Vasco started the match brightly by taking the lead in the 19th minute when winger Hussain Pinjar placed Beneston Barretto’s cross into the net to make it 1-0.

Sporting gained a lucky equalizer in the 33rd minute. A shot by Marcus Mascarenhas was deflected off Vasco defender Lenstan Afonso to make it 1-1.

The Panjim-based club was provided with an opportunity to gain the lead in injury time. Vasco defender Sanwil D’Costa brought down Ganesh Thakur inside the box to give away the penalty. Cajetan stepped ahead to make it 2-1 for his side at the break.

Sporting coach Mateus subbed in Victorino Fernandes early in the second half and the striker proved his mettle within a minute of coming in. He cut past two Vasco defenders and finish from close range to make it 3-1 for the Flaming Orange.

Marcus Mascarenhas scored his second in the 69th minute when he flicked in a free kick by Cajetan. Victorino also scored his brace in the 82nd minute, tapping in a cross from the right by Fady to make it 5-1.

Sporting is in second place with 16 points, while Vasco is seventh with 10 points.

Hat-trick hero Joseph Pereira helps Velsao beat Signals

A Joseph Pereira hat-trick helped Velsao Sports and Cultural Club edge past Corps of Signals 4-3 at the Signals Ground, Navelim.

The first of the five goals in a pulsating first half was scored by Joseph Pereira in the 12th minute to give Velsao the lead. Corps of Signals drew level two minutes later 14th minute through L. Singh.

Velsao regained the lead in the 34th minute, but Pawan Takur leveled the scoring for Corps of Signals in the 38th minute.

Joseph Pereira caught the Signals defense napping when he stroked in his team’s third in the 41st minute.

After resumption of play, Signals was dealt with a blow in the 51st minute when L Singh was shown a direct red card for a reckless tackle. However, the 10-man Signals team managed to equalize through Roshan Singh in the 57th minute.

The match was heading for a draw when Velsao scored the winner in the 88th minute courtesy the skipper and hattrick hero Joseph Pereira.

The win helped Velsao jump to eighth place, while the Signals team are struggling at the bottom place.