TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024
Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy managed to edge past Youth club of Manora by 3-2 margin in the Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium here on Monday.
In an absorbing first half where all five goals were scored for the winners Sameer Kashyap, Suraj and Rizbon Fernandes found the net while Sweden Barbosa and Eldon Colaco were on target for Manora.
Sesa FA fighting to save relegation started brightly and should have forged ahead in the fourth minute where Myron Borges sent a lob pass to his skipper Dominic Soares whose lob tap kissed Manora's goal post and went out.
However, just two minutes later, a delightful through pass by Myron saw striker Sameer Kashyap’s control and score with a stiff grounder from just inside the penalty box to give his side the lead.
Stung by the reverse, Manora unit not only levelled terms but took the lead. In the 20th minute, U-20 Sweden Barbosa collected a through pass from Eldon Colaco and after taking a few steps slotted the ball into the goal past the diving keeper Roanal Gaunkar.
Pepped up by the equaliser, Manora made it 2-1. This time Jason Barbosa was the provider for Eldon Colaco who drilled his shot into the far corner of the goal.
Eldon missed a glorious chance to double his lead in the 25th minute when his strike from close saw keeper Roanal bring a one hand diving save.
At the other end, a fierce strike by Sesa's Shajam P was pushed for a corner by keeper Alison Soares.
From the resultant corner, Manora's Michael Silva was caught by referee Deepraj Sangelkar bring a clumsy tackle on Myron Borges inside the danger zone and a penalty was being awarded. Suraj stepped forward and scored the equaliser to make it 2-2.
This time Sesa's Shajam sent a perfect cross from the left flank to his partner U-20 Rizbon Fernandes who was lucky to see his miss kick land into the goal to make it 3-2.
Manora went all out in search of the equaliser on crossing ends.
A hot blooded shot from close by Aniston Fernandes was brilliantly blocked by Sesa keeper Roanal.
Minutes later, Sesa were unlucky not to concede to self goal twice off Suraj and Dhiraj Chouhan.
In the entire second session, only in the 82nd and 93rd minutes Sesa had two threatening attacks at the rival citadel. Sesa's substitute Stephen Colaco cracker at the goal from inside the penalty box was acrobatically parried for a corner by keeper Alison Soares.
Then in the stoppage time, Sesa came with a well combined move where Myron set up Dominic who in turn found Kunal Salgaonkar inside the penalty box whose right footer was fisted over the post by keeper Alison.
Decisions from the referee Deepraj during the match, especially the penalty being awarded to Sesa FA did not go well with the Manora's team officials and Management seated in the stands who were seen giving their piece of advice to the GFA's executive members on the poor referring.
