Panjim Footballers pip Sesa FA; Dempo SC register commanding win

MAPUSA: Panjim Footballers pipped Sesa FA in a hard fought 1-0 win in the GFA's Professional League match played at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Sunday. 

Chandan Gawas scored the all-important goal in injury time of the first half. 

The play was mostly restricted to the midfield for the first 30 minutes with the first chance coming to Panjim when Chandan Gawas whipped in a dangerous cross into the box but skipper, Prasil Kankonkar could not get to the end of the ball in time to tap it into the net. 

Minutes later, Sesa’s skipper Myran Pereira brought up a smart save to stop Joyson Gauncar’s fierce shot from entering the goal from the 6-yard box.

Sesa who were hardly into the match in the first half had two decent chances of breaking the deadlock in the closing five minutes. 

In the 44th minute, Shajam P busted down the left flank and on entering the box squared the ball to a well-positioned Kunal Salgaonkar at the far post who to everyone`s surprise could not guide the ball into the net.

Panjim punished Sesa for the missed chances by taking the lead in the added time when a pinpoint cross by Panjim's Mahesh Kumar delivered into the box found Chandan Gawas who finished clinically but in the process got injured from a dangerous tackle by Sesa's skipper Myran.

Stung by the goal, Sesa FA showed more cohesiveness crossing ends and almost got back on level terms in the 57th minute when Omkar Shetgaonkar got hold off a pass from Shajam who dinked the ball into the goal but Panjim keeper Preston Rego somehow managed to tip the ball out for a corner to the disbelief of the entire Sesa dugout.

Sesa kept raiding their opponents’ goal with a barrage of attacks first in the 70th minute a well struck free-kick from Shajam P which was kept out for a corner by keeper Preston who was outstanding under the bar. Two minutes later, Ashely Cardozo’s cross found unmarked Laishram Mettei who with an open goal tapped the ball over the post.

Panjim who were on the back foot for the entire second half  had a last chance to get their second goal but Llyod Cardozo’s fierce grounder was well stopped by the Sesa keeper Nongpok Singh.

Meanwhile at Ella ground, Dempo Sports Club registered a commanding 4-1win over Guardian Angel Sports Club closing the gap on Goa Professional League leaders, Sporting Club de Goa on Sunday.

Dempo moved on to 34 points from 18 matches having played a game more than the leaders Sporting Clube de Goa. Guardian Angel SC stay on 20 points from 18 matches.

Suraj Hadkonkar was the hero of the evening scoring a hat-trick coming on as a substitute. The youngster has scored seven

goals in the league coming on as a substitute including his four in the last two games.

Dempo SC trailed in the game as Aslon Oliveira had put Guardian Angel SC ahead with a half hour strike. However, Dempo SC managed to restore parity just before the breather through Suraj Hadkonkar. Changing ends, Suraj showed his class and scored the second with his trademark freekick in the 56th minute. 

The youngster soon completed his hat-trick at the hour mark and set up Joaquim Abranches in the 62nd minute as the full time score read 4-1.