Goa Professional League Roundup – Matchday 9

Goan FC continues their dominance at the top of the Goa Professional League. Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa have picked up wins to put the pressure on the table toppers.

Only three matches had taken place in this round.

Liston and Goan FC clip Guardian Angel FC’s wings

Goan FC continued their dominance in the Goa Professional League with a 3-0 win over Guardian Angel Sports Club, at Rosary Ground, Navelim.

The development team of ISL team, FC Goa, are unbeaten in the league, with seven wins and two draws. The win has taken their points tally to 23 while their opponents, Guardian Angel, are on 10 points from eight matches.

The first half remained goalless with the best chance falling to Senilo from Guardian Angel FC. However, his shot went straight to the keeper. Meanwhile, Goan FC’s Savior Gama missed a sitter when Liston’s shot was pushed into his way by Guardian Angel keeper, Ozen Silva. The striker conspired to head it wide. 

The second half was a different story, as Goan FC had taken charge of the game. Meldon headed in a cross by Liston, but the referee denied the goal courtesy a foul on a Guardian Angel defender.  Minutes later, Goan FC thought that they got the lead when Savior Gama hit the back of the net courtesy a cross by Kapil Hoble. However, Hoble was adjudged to have crossed the sideline before providing the cross. 

It was only around the 78th minute that Goan FC managed to take the lead. A cross by Liston from the right flank was met with a diving header from Aaren D’Silva.  

Seven minutes later, Goan FC doubled the lead.  Goalscorer D’Silva’s pass to Kingslee Fernandes on the left flank was cut-back to Liston Colaco. The creator of the first goal curled the shot in the bottom left corner and leave Guardian Angel FC players with a mountain to climb.

Liston rounded off a brilliant display when he dribbled past the Guardian Angels defense and laid the ball to Imran Khan, who had to tap in the third goal in injury time.  

The scoreline flattered the Goan FC team, as Guardian Angel FC had put up a brave fight only to run out of steam in the closing minutes.

Victorino Fernandes the hat-trick hero for Sporting

A hat-trick by Victorino Fernandes ensured an easy 4-0 for Sporting Clube de Goa over Panjim Footballers at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa.

Flaming Oranje now jumps to the second spot with 19 points from 9 matches while Panjim Footballers are on 10th spot with four points from seven matches.

Victorino Fernandes score two in the first half while he netted the third in the second half. Cajetan Fernandes was the other goal scorer.

The visitors capitalized on a defensive lapse when the Panjim Footballers defense failed to deal with Clive Miranda’s long throw-in. Victorino Fernandes Goa striker made no mistake to shot from close to make it 1-0 in the 18th minute.

Sporting Clube de Goa doubled the score in the 28th minute. Yet another long throw-in from Clive Miranda was not dealt with the Panjim defense and Cajetan Fernandes was the benefactor.

Sporting Clube’s added a third on the stroke of half-time when Victorino’s well-placed shot was well-beyond the reaches of the Panjim keeper. 3-0 at the break and the match was in control of the visitors.

After the break, Panjim failed to threaten the Sporting goal and the
game to bed with a fourth goal. A through ball by Cajetan split the Panjim defense and Victorino slotted the ball to complete his hat-trick and enable his team to leapfrog Dempo into second place.

Dempo SC stays in the hunt of the Goa Pro League title

Dempo Sports Club continued their upward journey of the league table with a 2-0 win over Vasco Sports Club at the Duler Stadium.

The win helps Dempo move to 17 points from nine matches, while Vasco remains on eighth place with 10 points.

The Golden Eagles enjoyed better possession in the opening exchanges, but could not make the advantage a the strikes from Floyd Pereira and Jaison Vaz failed to trouble the Vasco keeper, Sanju Thapa.

Vasco’s midfielder, Anil Gaonkar, found space inside the Dempo goal area but his tame shot fell straight into the hands of the Dempo keeper Tyson Caiado.

After the break, Dempo went close when a shot from Velito Cruz shot and a header by substitute Suraj Hadkonkar missed the target by inches.

In the 75th minute, Dempo managed to break the deadlock. A long ball from Velito was met by Jessel Carneiro, who put his laces on the ball to give Dempo a deserved lead.

Beevan D’Mello sealed the match in the 83rd minute. Joaquim Abranches provided a defense-splitting pass which was calmly slotted in to make it 2-0. 

Dempo nearly scored a third, by a smart stop by Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa, denied Kirtikesh from finding the net.