MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa held Goan Football Club (FC Goa) to a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium here on Monday.
FC Goa were high on confidence after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over India U-17 World Cup team in a friendly match, while Sporting were also in a similar mood after defeating Panjim Footballers in their last pre-season friendly.
Sporting Coach Mateus Costa made four changes from the last match as Marcus Mascarenhas, Joseph Pereira, Alton Vaz and Brandon Gomes found their names in starting XI. The Junior Gaurs started with Princeton Rebello who recently represented India U-18 side in the SAFF Championship in Bhutan, while Coach Clifford Miranda also included ISL Draft player Yasir Mohammad in his starting XI.
The match started with end-to-end affairs, however, Goans were the first to look at the goal as Princeton tried his luck from the edge of the box but Sporting keeper Ozen Silva brilliantly blocked it.
The match started with end-to-end affairs, however, FC Goa were the first to look at the goal as Princeton tried his luck from the edge of the box but Sporting keeper Ozen Silva brilliantly blocked it.
A few minutes later, Goan’s keeper Iprotip Das was also tested by Sporting as George D’Souza’s curling free-kick forced the keeper to come out of his position to keep his side safe.
Finally in the 13th minute Goan FC surged ahead through Yasir Mohammad when he dribbled past two defenders and made no mistake to finish the ball in the back of the nylons with a perfect placement making it 1-0 for his side.
Sporting also had chances to put them on the level on a couple of occasions but first, Glan Martins’ stern shot from the left wing deflected off defender Franzil Negredo’s leg and went out for a corner.
Marcus Mascarenhas saw his left-footer from point-blank range paired by keeper Das’s hands for a corner.
Whereas, Goans also had a chance to double their tally when Aaren D’Silva tried to find Jason Barbosa in the box with a lofted pass, however, Sporting keeper Ozen made no mistake to collect it before the winger could reach to it.
In the added time of the first session, Aaren D’Silva almost doubled the tally for the junior Gaurs when his brilliant header finished in the net, off Liston Colaco’s perfect corner from the left but the goal was disallowed by the referee Parmanand Mandrekar due to striker’s foul on Sporting defender in the process of scoring the goal.
After the resumption of play, it was hardly minute crossed on the match clock when Victorino Fernandes put the terms on the level for Sporting as the striker tapped in from handshaking distance after Goan keeper Das failed to clear the Cajetan Fernandes curling free-kick completely.
Flaming Orange were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Glan Martins was booked for the second time in the match and given his marching order following his harsh tackle on Princeton.
In the 75th minutes, Victorino should have taken his side ahead when he was nicely set up in a one-on-one situation by Alsesh Sawant with a long pass but the striker shot over the crossbar.
Despite having one man advantage over Sporting, Goans failed to penetrate opponent’s defence for even a single time. While Sporting were in commanding position as they were the completely dominant side in the session, however, they could not manage to capitalise on their chances as the match ended in stalemate.
