MAPUSA: Trailing by two goals, Panjim Footballers staged a remarkable comeback in the second session to register a 3-2 win over Velsao Sports & Cultural Club in the sixth-round match of the GFA’s Professional league, at Duler stadium, here, on Tuesday.
Velsao who are yet to open their account in the league were leading 2-0 at half time through Joywin Carneiro and Romario Da Costa but Panjim fought back in the second half to score three goals through Alston, Lloyd Cardozo and Akash Sanadi.
Velsao began the proceedings brightly wherein Panjim keeper Preston Rego was called into action in the second minute to stop Inacio Colaco’s well struck shot from finding the net.
Panjim were unlucky not to open the scoring in the 16th minute when Joyson Gauncar laid the ball to Chandan Gawas whose rasping left footed shot struck the top post and went out.
Joywin Carneiro made it 1-0 for Velsao in the 20th minute with a firm header which had no answer by the Panjim keeper from a well taken free-kick by Inacio Colaco.
Velsao muffed up a golden chance of consolidating their lead when a corner-kick taken by Inacio was not well cleared by Panjim defender and the ball came to Romario Da Costa who surprisingly shot wide from close range.
A costly defensive error by Panjim’s defender U-20 Janio Fernandes was punished by Romario Da Costa who intercepted his back header to the keeper to lob the ball over the advancing keeper to make it 2-0.
Changing ends, Panjim were a different side who not only whipped off the two-goal deficit but went on to score the third goal and win the match.
In the absence of head coach Shekar, manager Anthony Vas made a tactical switch replacing Lakesh Gawas and bringing on Mahesh Kumar which changed the whole scenario of the team.
The first goal coming in the 58th minute when Alston low grounder after being put through by substitute Mahesh Kumar, gave no chance to the diving keeper.
In the 60th minute, Joyson Gauncar’s intelligent pass found Lloyd Cardozo who beat the keeper with a deft placement to make it 2-2.
It was heartbreaking for Velsao who had put up a brave fight in the first half to succumb in the second half and lose the match as Panjim got the winning goal from the spot kick which was calmly converted by Akash Sanadi after Velsao’s Remedios Vaz had brought down Chandan Gawas inside the danger zone.
