TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: In an exciting encounter, Goan Warriors Football Club held Dunes Sports Club to a 3-3 draw in a GFA’s U-20 Second Division football league match at Duler Stadium, here, Thursday. The teams were locked 1-1 at half time.
Dunes took the lead in the ninth minute with a fine strike by Shashank Naik but their opponents equalized through a penalty converted by Manish Kauthankar in the 21st minute. Post resumption, Craig Menezes lifted the spirits of Dunes with a quick brace.
However, skipper Arbaz Shaikh reduced the margin at the hour mark and with eight minutes to go for the final whistle, Samuel Almeida’s delightful strike sealed a point for Goan Warriors. Dunes have collected eight points from four matches while their rivals have seven points from five matches.
Goan Warriors largely controlled the first session and had several efforts on goal but they left stunned in the ninth minute when Shashank’s rasping right-footer left them stunned. However, Goan Warriors made their way back into the match, thanks to a penalty as Akshay Morajkar was brought down in the danger zone by Dunes keeper Lincoln Fernandes. Off the resultant spot-kick, Manish converted with ease to make it 1-1 in the 21st minute.
As the match progresses, Goan Warriors kept the rival defenders on their toes with several well-orchestrated raids but their finishing let them down as efforts from Samuel Almeida, Joseph Philip sailed inches over.
At the other end, Shashank could have scored another when Craig fed him with an intelligent through ball but the striker failed to convert with only rival custodian Pranav Amonkar at his mercy. Just before the break, Samuel was gifted another chance to make amends but the medio inside the box shot was excellently blocked by keeper Lincoln.
Changing over, Dunes played to a plan and a quick brace by Craig put them in the driver’s seat. First, Craig made it 2-1 with a clever chip over onrushing keeper in the 48th minute and then nodded in form close range of an assist by his skipper Shashank Aswekar in the 55th minute.
At the hour mark, Goa Warriors pulled a goal back after keeper Lincoln fumbled in his collection which allowed Goa Warriors captain to make the most of the given advantage, 3-2.
teams went head-to-head in the final quarter. Craig wasted a glorious opportunity to seal his hat-trick which proved rather costly as Samuel leveled terms in the 82nd minute with a beautiful curling strike that hit the upright and entered the goal. Goan Warriors had a lucky escape in the injury time after Shashank Naik went past the rival keeper but defender Arbaz made a crucial block.
In the other match played at Tilak Maidan, CSM Taleigao hammered Mormugao UCSC 6-0.
Nitesh scored a brace while Octavio, Vikram, Gaurav and Valerian shared a goal apiece.
