Team Herald
PANJIM: Sesa Football Academy earned their promotion to the Goa Football Association Goa Professional League following their 1-0 win over Dempo Sports Club Juniors in the Geno-1st Division League matches played at Sirsaim ground, on Sunday.
Melvin Lobo scored the lone goal in the 90+4th minute from the penalty spot.
The win takes Sesa FA to 31 points from 12 games which are enough for them to earn their qualification.
Vedanta Football President Annanya Agarwal said, “It was exactly two years back that we launched the Vedanta Football Project with a renewed vision, and it is heartening to see that all the hard work put in by the boys and the SFA support team over the last two years has finally paid off with us qualifying for the Goa Pro League.”
“The essence of our programme will continue to have the bottoms up approach and develop football from the grassroots, and we are extremely happy that our boys will get a higher level of exposure in the upcoming Goa Pro League,” he added.
Sesa FA began the match on attacking front and played long balls deep in Dempo SC Juniors territory making it difficult for the opponents to deal with. With the mounting pressure, Dempo gave away a free kick just outside the box when Rayan Pinto brought down SFA’s Joston. SFA almost scored from the resultant free-kick as Joston Pereira’s curling shot which beat the wall was beautifully saved by the Dempo keeper Wellyster Mendes.
Sesa once again close to scoring in the 16th minute when skipper Anil Chavan danced his way past couple of Dempo SC Juniors defence before playing a cut-back pass to Stephen Colaco, who was lurking in the box, but the left winger couldn’t get enough touch to his shot to put his side ahead.
SFA has another glorious chance when Vishnu ran down the right flank and rolled a pass to Olvin Cardozo but the league’s top goal scorer played it unselfishly to Stephen, whose grounder missed the target by whiskers.
Dempo enjoyed a brisk session post water break wherein they had a chance to have a short at goal from a free-kick just outside the box, but Rayan Pinto free-kick was easily dealt by SFA keeper Sapan. Just before the break, SFA missed yet another chance when Joston played Olvin through on goal, but with only the keeper to beat, the striker’s ground shot narrowly missed the mark. The teams were level at break.
Changing ends, SFA almost scored when Joston set up Stephen Colaco on goal, instead of taking a first time shot, the winger chose to dribble the keeper that left him in a tight angle, and the striker’s effort hit the post. At the other end, Dempo’s Velroy header was pushed away by SFA keeper Sapan. SFA kept pressing in search of the match winner but were denied by a resolute Dempo SC defence. In dying minutes of the game, Sapan played a delicious aerial ball in the box but SFA’s Olvin missed to connect the ball with just the keeper at his mercy.
SFA received a penalty in second half injury time when Lobo’s header of Chavan’s corner brushes off a Dempo SC arm and the referee made no mistake to point towards the spot. Melvin Lobo himself steps over and coolly sends to keeper in the wrong direction.
The Goa Football Association (GFA) congratulated Sesa Football Academy.
GFA President, Churchill Alemao congratulated Sesa for their excellent performance in the Geno GFA First Division League pointing out that yet another professional club was joining the elite Pro League.
“They richly deserved the success which was based on hard work, dedication, perseverity and a professional approach. They are a committed team,” said Churchill.
Lavinio Rebello, senior GFA vice-president applauded Sesa Goa for their brilliant performance. “We are very proud of the team’s achievement. They deserved the promotion. They are also financially healthy with a full training academy, a well maintained ground, adequate infrastructure and above all a professional approach,” he said.
Anthony Pango, GFA vice-president and Dominic Pereira, chairman of GFA Competitions Committee, also showered praises on the team and its management. They congratulated the players, the support staff including the coaches, the club officials and all those who were directly and indirectly connected with the team.
