Goa Professional League 2019-20: Round 9 Roundup

Churchill Brothers FC thrashed league leaders Dempo SC, while Sporting Clube miss out on going top of the Goa Professional League table at the end of Round 9. 

Defending champions, FC Goa, register a narrow win, while Panjim and Sesa are involved in a high-scoring encounter.

Lalkhawpuimawia and Plaza thrash Dempo

A second-half hat-trick by Lalkhawpuimawia sealed a comfortable 5-2 win for Churchill Brothers over Dempo Sports Club.

Following a three-match winless streak, the Red Machines went 2-0 ahead in the first 20 minutes courtesy their top goalscorer, Willis Plaza.

The Trinidadian, upon seeing the goalkeeper out of position, smashed in a long ranger in the 12th minute. Plaza scored his second six minutes later, as he was left unmarked in the box.

Churchill Brothers continued their pursuit in search of more goals, but the Dempo defense managed to keep the scoreline down – only just.

The crowd at the Dempo SC Academy Ground was treated to more attacking football after the break. Plaza nearly bagged his hat-trick, but it was his strike partner, Lalkhawpuimawia, who took stole the limelight with a 12-minute hat-trick.

His first goal came in the 65th minute, a first-time shot which had Luis, the Dempo SC keeper, rooted to the spot. Eight minutes later, it was 4-0 and Lalkhawpuimawia’s second.

By the 77th minute, the hat-trick was completed when the former Aizawl FC player scored from the spot. 5-0 and the game was effectively over.

Dempo did pull back a couple of goals through Pedro. Two goals in injury time was a little too late for the visitors.

Despite the loss, Dempo remains at the top of the table with 19 points. Churchill Brothers move to third place with 17 points.

Vasco hold Sporting to a goalless draw

Vasco Sports Club dug deep to hold Sporting Clube de Goa to a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League match played at the Duler Stadium.

Sporting Clube is the only unbeaten team in the league, but the ‘Flaming Oranje’ will rue the missed opportunity to climb to the top of the league.

Without the main strikeforce, Sporting Clube’s attack lacked bite. Marcus Mascarenhas was out due to a hamstring injury, while Philip Odogwu was suspended owing to the cumulative bookings he had picked up.

The action was mostly confined to the midfield as both the teams could not find a way past each other’s defense.

Stendly Fernandes should have put Sporting ahead when Vasco’s keeper, Amit Biswas, made a hash of George D`Souza’s freekick. The young striker conspired to blast the ball wide.

Vasco’s defense combined with more poor finishing ensured that the scoreline was left undisturbed.

With 18 points Sporting Clube remains on second spot, while Vasco are on seven points, courtesy of their fourth draw of the season.

Panjim prevail over Sesa in high-scoring encounter

Panjim Footballers beat Sesa FA in a 4-3 win in the Goa Professional League match played at Sirsaim Ground.

The Panjim-based team started on the front foot and fired the first warning shot in the fifth minute, a long ranger by Joyson. In the 19th minute, Panjim took the lead through the boots of Chandan Gawas.

Llyod Cardozo helped himself to a brace by scoring in the 36th and the 39th minute. 3-0 Panjim at the break.

Five minutes after the break, Sesa FA scored through Richard. However, a defensive lapse allowed Panjim to score their fourth goal through Joyson in the 59th minute.

Six minutes later, it was 4-2. Substitute Kunal Salgaonkar kept the pressure on Panjim by scoring in the 65th minute.

Stephen Colaco finally scored for Sesa FA with a long-range effort in the 1st minute of injury time.

There wasn’t enough time to look for an equalizer as Panjim ran out winners in a high-scoring encounter.

Satarkar on the double as Salgaocar humble Guardian Angel

At the Nagoa Ground, Salgaocar Football Club registered an emphatic 4-0 win over Guardian Angel Sports Club.

Despite the final scoreline, Guardian Angel SC was the more dominant team in the opening exchanges. Josley Dias and Agnelo Colaco fluffed their lines for the Curchorem-based side.

Salgaocar responded in kind, through Stephen Satarkar in the 35th minute. Selwin Frazier doubled the account two minutes after the break.

Stephen Satarkar ended the contest with his second of the match, while substitute Fhezer Gomes helped himself to a goal in the closing stages to make it 4-0 for the Greens.

FC Goa script narrow win over Calangute

The development team of FC Goa scraped past Calangute Association with a solitary goal at the Duler Stadium.

The defending champions had a savior in Dylan Da Silva, the goalkeeper. Two crucial saves in the first half kept the Calangute attack from scoring.

Nestor Dias broke the deadlock in the 85th minute. A pass from Aaren D’Silva found an unmarked Nestor in the box, who did not make any mistake. 

The win takes FC Goa to 11 points from seven matches, while Calangute drop down to fourth spot on 15 points.

Drama after the 90th minute in Sesa-Velsao clash

Sesa Football Academy and Velsao SCC played out a 2-2 draw at the Sesa Football Academy Ground, Sirsaim. 

The home team took the lead in the 3rd minute. A cross from the left found Richard who out his team ahead.

Velsao equalized in the 12th minute though the boots of Joseph Pereira. A defensive error created allowed the striker to score from the edge of the box. 1-1.

Both teams got their defense into shape and the match was restricted to the midfield.

The three points looked to be heading Velsao’s way when Joseph Pereira found the back of the net in the first minute of added-on time. 

Sesa, to their credit, went hell for leather equalized two minutes later. The Sesa skipper, Melvin, struck a powerful freekick which hit the top bar and into the net. Velsao goalkeeper, Aliston, was left with little chance to making a save. 

2-2 and Velsao remain at the bottom of the table, while Sesa are in sixth position with 12 points.