TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Deepak Narvekar scored twice in the second session as St Ana Sports Club rallied to edge past Agassaim Youth Club 2-1 in GFA’s 3rd Division Ilhas Zone League match at Agassaim ground, Wednesday. Agassaim led 1-0 at the breather.
Sometimes the best is always kept for the last, so was the case with St Ana, who registered their first victory of the campaign in their final match.
The new entrants had collected only a point with a draw against Siridao SC and when Agassaim took the lead in the 15thminute, things were not going for the St Ana side which struggled to maintain ball possession.
On the other hand, Batim Youth Club and Football Club of Neura had already qualified from the group but Agassaim played attackingly to finish their season on a high.
After a cautious start, the home team surged ahead in the 15thminute when Baggio Fernandes intelligently set up Shivaraya Hirehurabar inside the box and the latter finished neatly past St Ana keeper Manjunath Desai.
Agassaim were in total control which saw Vikharam Singh in a one-to-one situation in the 35th minute but the striker shot straight into the rival custodian.
St Ana were a subdued lot in the first session and hardly tested rival goalkeeper Austin Fernandes and the match settled into a familiar pattern after resumption.
However, in the 65th minute, Deepak equalized with a rasping right-footer that gave keeper Austin no chance.
As the match became frantic, Agassaim’s youngsters went all-out in search of the match-winner. They had several chances in the offing but substitute Silvester Souza ballooned over from close and then, Vikharam’s thunderous in-direct free-kick kissed the horizontal before keeper Manjunath got his gloves on the ball.
Luck certainly did not follow the Agassaim camp as it travelled in the opposite direction to find Deepak.
St Ana were awarded a free-kick in the 85th minute just near the center line. Defender Vishwas Vernekar stretched his muscles and provided a long ball inside the danger zone to Deepak, who cleverly headed over the onrushing keeper for his brace and seal three points for his team.
After six matches, St Ana finished with four points while Agassaim remained on eight points.
Meanwhile, CDJ Ribandar were suppose to take on Portais SC at St Cruz ground but there was no show even as the GFA released the fixture. The fixture has been postponed to December 6.
