Goa Professional League 2019-20: Round 13

Salgaocar put a dent on Sporting Clube de Goa’s title challenge with an injury time winner in the Goa Professional League.

Defending champions FC Goa registered yet another win, while Panjim Footballers climb up the table with back-to-back wins.

Salgaocar leaves it late to beat Sporting

Salgaocar FC put a dent in Sporting Clube de Goa’s pursuit to reclaim the Goa Professional League title with a 2-1 win at the Duler Stadium.

The first half belonged to Salgaocar, but four minutes upon resumption of play, Sporting Clube de Goa took the lead against the run of play through Marcus Mascarenhas.

Marcus Mascarenhas headed in Delton Colaco’s cross to put the league leaders ahead.

Salgaocar FC should have equalized in the 62nd minute when Devendra was faced with a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, but failed to finish.

Devendra made up for his miss when he set up Stephen Satarkar in the 84th minute. The substitute hit the back of the net to make it 1-1.

In the 90 minute mark, a powerful shot by Godfrey Mascarenhas was too hot for goalkeeper Melroy to handle. The ball fell kindly to Stephen who tapped in the match winner and three points for Salgaocar.

The win takes Salgaocar to fifth place with 23 points. Sporting continue to top the table with 28 points.

Sporting Clube have it easy against Velsao

Earlier in the week, George De Souza and Marcus Mascarenhas scored a goal each as Sporting Clube de Goa got the better of Velsao Sports and Cultural Club 2-0 at the Rosary Ground, Navelim.

Velsao, the bottom-placed club, was forced into the defensive from the start. The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute. George De Souza’s initial effort from a freekick hit the defensive wall. On the second attempt, his half-volley beat the goalkeeper all ends up.

The lead could have been extended further only for wasteful efforts of Philip and Marcus which held the kept the scoreline down to 1-0 at the break.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Velsao came with their first real chance in the game when Joseph Pereira’s effort was blocked in the box by the crowded Sporting defence.

Marcus Mascarenhas put the game to bed in additional time of second half to give all three points for the Flaming Oranje.

Aaren double hands FC Goa a comfortable win

Striker Aaren D’Silva netted a double while defender Leander D’Cunha scored a goal as FC Goa registered a 3-1 win against Corps of Signals in the Goa Professional League match at the 3MTR grounds, Rawanfond, Navelim.

The development team of FC Goa went ahead in the 18th minute. The Signals defense made a hash of a Nestor Dias freekick allowing the Leander to tap in the opening goal.

Seven minutes later a corner kick by Nestor was headed towards goal by Leander. The ball hit the crossbar and Aaren slammed home the rebound to make it 2-0.

Corps of Signals pulled a goal back in the 33rd minute through Shuklab Bordoloi. A 30-yard shot by Signals striker Vishnu Chettri beat keeper Antonio Da Silva but slammed into the crossbar. Bordoloi capitalized on the rebound.

Crossing over, FC Goa made the score 3-1 in their favour in the 52nd minute when Aaren scored his second of the day. A stiff grounder beat Signals keeper Binu Purushothaman all ends up.

With this win, FC Goa are in fourth place with 23 points from 12 matches.

Earlier in the week, a strike in the 33rd minute by Nim Bhutia helped Corps of Signals register a hard-fought win over Calangute Association in the Goa Professional League match at the 3MTR Grounds, Rawanfond, Navelim.

The win takes the points tally Corps of Signals to 11 points, while Calangute Association is on 15 points from 13 matches.

Panjim come from behind to beat Guardian Angel

Panjim Footballers registered back-to-back wins to climb up the Goa Professional League table.

Playing at the Duler Stadium, Guardian Angel SC went 2-0 ahead by the 33rd minute courtesy a brace by Yakubu.

Panjim Footballers reduced the deficit early in the second half. In the 50th minute Guardian Angel custodian, Pratheesh, parried away Mahesh Kumar’s goal bound effort, only for the ball fell into the path of Chandan Gawas who guided the ball home to make it 2-1.

Soon it was 2-2 when Joyson Gauncar gave the finishing touch to Lloyd’s effort. Game on. The Guardian Angel SC goalkeeper, Pratheesh, was given marching their orders for handling the ball outside the 18-yard box.

The Panjim team sealed the match in their favour in the 77th minute when Vallmiky’s powerful strike was kept away by substitute keeper Jeet Gupta. Chandan Gawas capitalized on the rebound yet again to make it 3-2.

Panjim scrape past Vasco

Later in the week, Panjim Footballers scraped 1-0 win over Vasco SC in the Goa Professional League match at the Duler Stadium.

After a goalless first half, Panjim Footballers took the lead in the 74th minute when Alston Camotio’s cross was met by Joyson Gauncar to make it 1-0.

Vasco SC spurned their best chance to equalise five minutes before close when Raju Padashi set up Bibetta Radhakrishnan in a one to one situation with the Panjim keeper Preston Rego, for the former to shoot wide.

The wins took Panjim to sixth place with 20 points.