Goa Professional League Roundup – Matchday 21

Dempo Sports Club went five points clear at the top of the Goa Professional League after a 4-0 win over Vasco Sports Club. Sporting Clube de Goa failed to keep pace with the league leaders after being held to a goalless draw by Panjim Footballers, while Velsao SCC played out a goalless draw against Guardian Angel SC to end their inaugural season in the Goa Professional League.

Dempo extend their lead at the top of the table

Dempo Sports Club registered a 4-0 win over Vasco Sports Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Dempo Football Academy Ground in Ella, Old Goa. The result ends Vasco SC’s six-match unbeaten run. 

Vasco started the brighter of the two teams with Rugved Yeole curling the ball into the box for Aman Govekar at the 10-minute mark. Dempo custodian, Tyson Caiado, collected the ball to prevent any damage.

A few minutes later, Yeole set up Moise outside the box but the latter failed to keep his shot on target.

At the other end, Dempo came close to scoring in the 23rd minute. Pedro Gonsalves curled the ball in the box but the U-20 winger, Pruthvesh Pednekar, could not keep his header down.

Dempo scored the opener at the half-hour mark under fortunate circumstances. Vasco goalkeeper, Sanju Thapa, slipped with the ball in the box. Dempo forward Joaquim Abranches capitalized to slot the ball in an empty net. Curiously, the Vasco goalkeeper was not wearing football boots.

In injury time, Thapa failed to clear Floyd’s cross as the ball lodged in the net to give Dempo a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Dempo attacking from the start. The scoreline read 3-0 in the 68th minute when Pedro, after receiving a cross from the right flank, made no mistake in shooting past Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa from 10-yards.

The rout was completed in added time when substitute midfielder Desmon Pereira’s shot from the top of the box entered the top corner to seal a 4-0 win for his side.

Dempo extended their lead at the top of the table by five as they are on 41 points, while Vasco has 26 points on sixth place.

Vasco SC jump Signals; move up to sixth

Earlier in the week, Vasco Sports Club registered a 3-1 win over Corps of Signals at the Duler Stadium. The Port Towners made their intentions clear as early as the 3rd minute when skipper Penn Orji’s long ranger rebounded off the crossbar.

A few minutes later, Penn found Beneston Barretto with a short pass in the box. The last named easily cut past two defenders in the box but his weak shot was comfortably collected by Signals keeper Niyas Mon.

Vasco had another chance in the 21st minutes when Penn made a swift run from the halfway line and sent a perfect through pass to teammate Aman Govekar but the Signals keeper came off his line to thwart the U-20 striker in a one-on-one situation.

After probing attacks, Vasco finally managed to break the deadlock in the 40th minute. Signals’ Nim Bhutia gave away a freekick in a dangerous position. Rugved Yeole stepped up to curl in the ball past the keeper to give his team the lead.

On crossing over, Vasco took 15 minutes to double their tally as Rugved sent a square pass to skipper Penn Orji who in turn set up Beneston with a through pass. The forward banged the ball home from close making it 2-0 for the Port Towners.

With just five minutes from the goal, skipper Penn was in the commanding position to inflate the lead when Sanwil D’Costa made a defense-splitting through pass to him in the box but the Nigerian playmaker failed to keep his shot on target with just the opponent keeper at stake.

Signals reduced the margin in the 82nd minutes as Romenjit Meetei’s cross was headed in by Kuldeep Kumar from 6-yards to make it 2-1 for the Army men.

However, it was just a few seconds after conceding, when Sanwil restored the two-goal lead with a superb goal as his sparkling shot from the distance entered the top corner for Vasco’s third goal.

After this loss, Signals are on ninth spot with has 16 points.

Sporting’s title run on hold after a goalless draw

Sporting Clube de Goa suffered a blow to their title credentials after a goalless draw against Panjim Footballers in the Goa Professional League match at the Duler Stadium.

Sporting created their first chance of the match in the 13th minute when George D’Souza went for the glory from the 30-yard free-kick. The curling shot was pushed out for a corner by Panjim custodian Sherwin Da Cunha.

Two minutes later, a long cross from George found an unmarked Marcus Mascarenhas in the box. The latter attempted a header which missed the target. Sporting created another opening through Victorino Fernandes, but his attempt was blocked by Sherwin.

In the second half, Panjim Footballers went on the attack. Vallmiky Miranda’s strike rebounded off the crossbar. In the 66th minute, Joyson Gaunkar put Cyril through inside the Sporting box. The forward shot wide from 10-yards with only the keeper, Melroy Fernandes, to beat.

Sporting was restricted to one opportunity in the second half. Victorino’s header from close was parried away Sherwin. Sporting built up some pressure in the added time but the Panjim defense shut shop to share the spoils with their neighbors.

Sporting remains in 3rd place with 36 points, while Panjim is on the 10th position with 15 points.

Velsao SCC end season with a 0-0 draw

Velsao Sports and Cultural Club ended their season at the Goa Professional League with a goalless draw against Guardian Angel SC at the Rosary Grounds, Navelim.

The match was mainly an affair restricted to the midfield in the first half as both teams lacked penetration to cause any discomfort to the opposition defense.

The final quarter of the match saw both the teams displaying some urgency to find the winner.

Velsao’s midfielder, Sushant Borker, hit the post with his grounder in the 76th minute. The Guardian Angel keeper Ozen Silva was completely beaten and the ball fell at the feet of Laiwang Bohham.

However, the substitute shot the ball wide off the mark. Remedios Vaz’s attempts match missed the mark narrowly on a couple of occasions.

At the other end, Guardian Angel’s midfielder, Micky Vaz’s shot curled outside the post narrowly, while Josly Moniz’s effort from close also missed the mark. Velsao SCC keeper, Presley Mascarenhas, stayed firm under the bar.

With this draw, Velsao Sports and Cultural Club end their inaugural season with 25 points and are currently in seventh place, while Guardian Angel SC is on the eighth spot with 21 points.