FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
Team Herald
MAPUSA: FC Goa came from a goal behind to hold Calangute Association SC 1-1 in a GFA’s Super League match at Duler stadium here, Thursday.
After today’s match, FC Goa has 22 points while Calangute Association tallied 20.
Calangute Association skipper Moises D’Sa scored from a free-kick while Shanon Viegas equalized for FC Goa from the penalty spot.
The match never rose to great heights in the first 24 minutes. Calangute almost conceded a goal in the 25th minute. FC Goa's Lalremruata HP found Deeshank Kunkalikar, just outside the penalty area. The last named managed to dribble past onrushing Calangute's custodian Presley Mascarenhas and toed the ball goalwards, only to find Calangute's Vishesh Nasnodkar effecting a brilliant goalline clearance.
FC Goa were lucky not to concede a penalty as Calangute's Abraham Fernandes was brought down by Manushawn Fernandes. A strong appeal from the
Calangute's players for a penalty was turned down by referee Tejas Nagvenkar.
Later, a FC Goa defender tackled Junior Carret inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the dreaded spot. Moises D'Sa stepped forward but saw his strike being saved by goalkeeper Hansel Coelho.
Calangute missed a golden chance to score in the 51st minute as a fierce left footer by Under-20 Nigel Silveira was superbly blocked by the rival goalkeeper Hansel, from close quarters. Minutes later Junior Carret was brilliantly set up by Jovito Fernandes but Junior's strike brushed the leg of a rival defender.
FC Goa's Delton Colaco had two golden opportunities to put his team ahead but his tap right in front of the goal went out and then minutes later he had only the Calangute's custodian Presley at his mercy but he headed the ball into the goalkeeper's hands.
In the 80th minute, Calangute's Richard Cardozo squared the ball to unmarked Abraham Fernandes whose hot-blooded grounder was blocked by FC Goa's custodian and the ball rolled to Jovito Fernandes who, surprisingly, blasted wide.
At the other end Calangute's Under-20 Salgeo Dias effort at the goal was blocked by goalkeeper Presley.
Just a minute before the end of the regulation time, Moises D’Sa made up for his earlier lapse and scored with a well-executed free kick which brushed past a rival defender before the ball entered the goal.
It was only in the added time that FC Goa managed to score the equaliser as the referee pointed to the spot after the Calangute’s custodian had left his charge and unfairly tackled Mevan Dias. Substitute Shanon Viegas made no mistake to net the equalizer.
