TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
Team Herald
MAPUSA: FC Goa registered a well-deserved 2-0 win over Dempo Sports Club in the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy organised by Goa Football Association at Duler Stadium, here, on Thursday.
Young Gaurs struck a goal in each session of play through Akash Oraw and Mallikjan Kalegar.
Thursday’s first session never rose to great heights, as both teams met each other in the just concluded Goa Professional League and played mostly with their development squad.
In the very 3rd minute of play, Young Gaurs striker Akash Oraow collected a floater from his medio, hoodwinked the defence and beat the onrushing custodian Myrick Hilario with a neat placement 1-0.
Play was then mostly restricted to midfield where in the 30th minute Akash Oraow collected a square pass from Brison Fernandes, but his placement on entering the 18-yard box travelled past the goal post.
At the other end, Dempo SC too had a couple of chances to forge ahead but strikers from Mevan Dias, Chinkhoslam Dimngel and Laximanrao Rane were saved by Young Gaurs custodian Bob Jackson Raj.
In the added time, Dempo SC’s custodian Myrick came with a full stretched diving save to push a stiff grounder from Prachit Gaonkar.
Just four minutes into the second session and Young Gaurs Brison Fernandes darted inside the 18-yard box and from an acute angle drilled a hot-blooded shot which was saved by Dempo SC’s goalkeeper at the first post.
As the match progressed, Young Gaurs continued on having their upper hand where in the 70th minute another goal bound strike from 25-yard by Akash Oraow hit defender for a corner.
From the resultant corner, Young Gaurs stopper back Mallikjan Kalegar rose above the rival defenders and headed the ball into the goal 2-0.
Just two minutes later, Young Gaurs should have netted their third goal but Substitute Lemmet Tangvah was a bit late to connect Brison Fernandes deadly cross.
FC Goa’s Akash Oraow received the man-of-the-match award from the hands of Johnny Pereira, GFA’s Executive Committee member.
In the next match, Kerala Blasters trounced Panjim Footballers by 5-0 margin.
Though Kerala Blasters played with their development squad, yet they scored four goals in the first session. In the very 7th minute, Sreekuttan M S after receiving a through pass from Thingujam Singh darted inside the penalty box and beat the onrushing Panjim Footballers’ custodian Vipin Sharma, 1-0.
After two strikes by Thingujam Singh were saved by Panjim Footballers’ keeper, Muhammad Nisham brilliantly curled the ball into the far corner of the goal, 2-0.
In the 38th minute, once again Sreekuttan M S scored from a close range, while skipper Sukham Meitei scored a gem of a goal from 25-yard distance, 4-0.
On crossing ends, Kerala Blasters hunger for goals did not end as Sreekuttan netted his hat-trick by giving finishing touches to Rehan Rajeev cross, 5-0.
While minutes later, Rehan shot rebounded off the crossbar, at the other end Panjim Footballers’ Ajay Raj header kissed the upright. Panjim Footballers’ substitute custodian Pratik Kankonkar was sent off by Referee Sunil Nanodkar for bringing down Kerala Blasters’ Parth Dewan outside the penalty box
Also Panjim Footballers’ Mackenzie Figuerido and Kerala Blasters’ Rehan Rajeev were sent off in the added time for rough play.
Kerala Blasters colts Sreekuttan M S received the man-of-the-match award from Jonathan D’Souza, GFA’s vice-president
