MAPUSA: FC Goa secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Viva Football Club Chennai in the 1st AWES Cup 2017 Group B match organised by Goa Football Association (GFA) and Dempo Sports Club Juniors, played at Duler Stadium, here on Wednesday. 

Both the teams were tied to a 1-1 draw at the halftime, with Liston Colaco opening the tally for the Goans in the 29th minute but Chennai’s Anoop VC levelled term with just four minutes to half time. 

However, FC Goa’s medio Hayden Fernandes scored the winner in the 70th minute to take all three points home.  FC Goa Coach Derrick Pereira made only one change to his side which lost to Salgoacar in the last match as Aaren D’Silva came back in the starting XI replacing Brian Faria. 

FC Goa had a chance to take lead when a fine free-kick from Liston Colaco was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by Chennai keeper Mani Kandan. The Guars finally opened their tally in the 29th minute when Liston cut past his marker sent a powerful left footer which hit the inside of the post before entering the frame making it 1-0 or the Goan side.

The front man who was left unmarked easily got hold of a pass from Netto Benny and drilled a grounder to the far post to set their few of travelling fans in raptures. 

On resumption of play, FC Goa was the dominant side but their strikers Liston and Aaren failed to convert any of their chances. However, in the 70th minute, a scorching long range from Hayden sneaked into the far corner of the goal past the diving Chennai keeper Mani to make it 2-1. A few minutes later FC Goa saw two more chances to increase the lead go in vain. First, Liston shot travelled wide off the mark from Jason Barbosa’s cross. Later, Chennai’s Safvan brilliantly intercepted Liston’s cross when he was trying to find the well positioned Aaren D’Silva in the box.