Team Herald
MAPUSA: Goan Football Club got the better of Dempo Sports Club 2-0 in the Goa Football Association season opening Charity match at Duler Stadium, played under floodlights, on Thursday.
Goa Football Association presented Rs 25,000 to former GFA executive committee member Andrew Rodrigues, organiser of the prestigious Bandodkar Memorial Shield in Vasco.
The Young Gaurs showed they were well prepared for the upcoming season and kept the Dempo keeper busy throughout the duel.
Dempo too were not far behind however they failed to convert from the chances that they created.
In the early minutes of the match Princeton Rebello unleashed a powerful right footer which was collected by the alert Dempo keeper. Dempo’s Nickson was sent off for rough play in the 15th minute.
At the other end, Alber Gonsalves saw his pinpoint header being timely cleared on the goal line by Goan FC’s Nester Dias.
The Young Gaurs finally managed to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Lalawmpuia’s powerful right footer entered Dempo net after taking a deflection of Dempo’s stopper back Shallum Pires, 1-0.
Dempo almost levelled but Young Gaurs keeper Shubham Das came with a splendid save to clear away defender Saviour Gama’s backpass.
Minutes before the breather, Goan FC doubled the lead when Lalawmpuia’s well executed long-range free-kick crashed into the Dempo goal, 2-0.
Changing over both sides came with several threatening moves but failed to get the ball into the goal.
The Golden Eagles were awarded a penalty kick, however, Suraj Hadkonkar faltered much to the dismay of his teammates.
