THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2024
Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy fought gallantly to come from a goal deficit to defeat Chapora Yuvak Sangh by 2-1 margin and lift the tallest Goa Police Cup of the 18th edition organised by Goa Police Sports cell played at Duler stadium on Thursday.
Finally the unbeaten run from Chapora YS came to an end with the large North Coast belt crowd returning home crestfallen.
Chapora colts did start brightly and went into the breather with a goal lead from the boots of Sachidanand Satelkar. However, on crossing ends two poor goal keeping errors from Soma Korgaonkar cost the team dearly with Omkar Shetgaonkar and Faheez Mohammad scoring for Sesa Football Academy.
In the 25th minute Chapora's Pratik Dhargalkar sent a through pass to Sachidanand Satelkar who easily cut past few opponents to enter the box but his weak shot was easily saved by Sesa keeper Roanal Gaunkar.
At the other end Sesa's Kunal Salgaonkar sent a threatening cross in the box but the ball went out untouched. The next minute saw Janak Kudmal in a commanding position in the box but the lad shot wide with just rival Chapora keeper Soma Korgaokar at stake.
Chapora's Rohit Totad then sent a curler near the goal which was parried by Sesa keeper Roanal but he failed to clear the danger completely. Taking advantage of the same, Sachidanand slotted the ball in the empty net, 1-0.
Down by a goal, Sesa came out all guns buzzing in the second session as they drew level in the second minute after resumption. Myran Pereira tried his luck from distant free kick but Chapora custodian Soma dived to his right to clear the danger at the cost of corner. The resultant corner saw another attack from the Academy side as Kunal's well-taken flag-kick was brilliantly headed by Macbon Fernandes but rival keeper Soma once again rescued his side with a breathtaking save.
Chapora's keeper Soma was in the thick of action with two more brilliant saves as he first denied Kunal's fierce strike from just inside the box. Later Sesa substitute Omkar had an opportunity to level the terms in the 69th minute but his strike was brilliantly blocked by the rival custodian to keep his side safe.
However, Chapora conceded a goal in the 70th minute due to their keeper Soma's mistake when he failed to collect a stiff grounder from substitute Beckham Singh and Omkar made no mistake to slot the ball home off the rebound making it all square, 1-1.
Energised by the equaliser, the Academy boys took more 10 minutes to take the lead as this time Chapora's keeper Soma was once again at fault. Sesa's Omkar sent a through pass to Faheez Mohammed but rival keeper came off his line to thwart the forward. However, he failed to collect the ball neatly which rolled to the forward who calmly sent the ball in the empty net securing a first silverware of the season for his side.
Chapora YS had to be content with the runners- up trophy and cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 while Sesa FA pocketed the winner’s trophy and cash prize of Rs 2,00,000 from the hands of Chief Guest AIFF Savio Medeira, Technical Director and Director of Coach Education, Special Invitee Samir Naik, former India captain, DGP, Jaspal Singh, DIGP Aslam Khan. SP Bosco George, Sports proposed the vote of thanks.
