Team Herald
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MAPUSA/RAIA: Clube de Salgaocar registered a fluent 3-1 win over Geno FC in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Saturday.
After this match, Clube de Salgaocar top the league table with 22 points from eight matches, while Geno FC stay on 18 points from nine matches.
Both teams unbeaten in the ongoing GPL started at a very fast pace with a goal each being scored within the first 10 minutes of the match. In the very 57th second of the match, Clube de Salgaocar medio Selwyn Miranda won the ball from Geno FC’s stopper back Liston Cardozo darted inside the 18-yard box and brilliantly curled the ball into the goal, 1-0.
Clube de Salgaocar almost doubled their lead but skipper Pratesh Shirodkar stiff grounder travelled just past the far goal post.
Geno FC’s skipper Liston made amends for his earlier lapse as he nodded Umesh Pujar’s long throw in into the goal past the stunned Clube de Salgaocar’s defence,1-1. In the 26th minute, Clube de Salgaocar once again surged ahead when Shridharnath Gawas connected Beckham Singh pass into the far corner of the goal with a hot-blooded strike to send Clube de Salgaocar’s supporters into raptures 2-1.
In the closing stages of the first session, Geno FC’s custodian Crysler Afonso saved strikes from Isac Zomuanpuia and Pratesh free-kick.
On crossing over, Clube de Salgaocar’s Beckham Singh found unmarked Pratesh just outside the 6-yard box, who to the dismay of his teammates and supporters, shot skywards.
However, in the 62nd minute, this time Isac made no mistake to send the ball into the back of the nylons from Beckham’s pinpoint cross, 3-1. Geno FC should have reduced the margin in the 77th minute but substitute Akeraj Martins shot from a close was brilliantly blocked for a corner by Clube de Salgaocar’s goalkeeper Sanij Bugde.
As the match progressed, Clube de Salgaocar substitute George D’Souza saw two of his sitters – first being saved by Geno F’s custodian and next being blocked by the rival defender for a corner.
In another match, Dempo Sports Club secured a 3-2 win over Guardian Angel SC at Nagoa ground, on Saturday. Dempo SC took the lead soon after the restart when Arnold Oliveira curled home a free-kick to make it 1-0.
In the 58th minute, Beckham drove a dangerous ball across the goalmouth that Suman Lepcha mishandled under pressure. The ball slipped off him catching even goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh off guard and rolled into the net for an own goal that extended Dempo SC’s lead to 2-0.
Dempo SC struck again in the 66th minute when Mevan Dias slid a clean pass to Murphy Fernandes, who had only the goalkeeper to beat. The finish was calm and Dempo SC moved 3-0 ahead as the Guardian Angel SC defence failed to react in time.
Guardian Angel SC pulled one back in the 83rd minute after a handball by Rahul Rodrigues in the box.
Fhezer Gomes stepped up and converted from the spot to reduce the deficit. The momentum shifted briefly and Guardian Angel SC added a second soon after making it 3-2 and setting up a tense finish. Despite late pressure, Dempo SC held firm to take all three points.
