MAPUSA: Skipper Joaquim Abranches’ brace enabled Goa to open their campaign with a 2-0 win against Rajasthan in the Hero Santosh Trophy (West zone Qualifiers), organised by GFA played at Duler stadium, here, on Monday.
Both the goals for Goa came in the first session of play through Joaquim Abranches who gave a torrid time to the Rajasthan defense with his darting runs and quick turns.
Goa started brightly and nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute but Devendra Murgaonkar`s well timed header from a cross delivered by Standley hit the upright.
Chaitan Komarpant’s pile grounder was well stopped by Rajasthan keeper Mahesh who was brilliant under the bar as he kept his team in the match by bringing saves time and again.
Goa finally took the lead in the18th minute when Joaquim Abranches timed his jump to perfection to meet Devendra’s cross and head the ball into the net to give the home side the lead.
Rajasthan keeper Mahesh brought up two saves in quick succession in denying Stendly’s and Devendra from doubling the lead for Goa.
It did not take long for the second goal when Ribhav who had a wonderful outing in the midfield send in a low cross inside the penalty box which was cleverly back heeled into the net by Joaquim Abranches to make it 2-0.
Rajasthan who were mostly confined into their own area had one decent attempt but Vikas Choudhary’s strike did not cause much trouble to keeper Jason D’Mello.
Crossing ends, Goa tried to inflate the score board but once again Devendra and Stendly could not find a way pass Rajasthan keeper Mahesh who also stopped a cracking grounder from Samuel Costa in crashing into the net.
Coach Levino introduced Aaren D’Silva into the attack who nearly found the third goal for Goa in the 85th minute when he busted towards the goal and cleverly dinked the ball over the advancing keeper Mahesh but it was timely cleared off the line by Rajasthan defender.
Speaking to Goa Coach Levino Anthony Pereira, said “Playing the first match of the qualifiers was always difficult, so a win was a good result. His team had numerous attempts at the rival goal but keeper Mahesh was outstanding and brought at least seven good saves or less the score sheet would have read differently”, stated the coach.
At the other quarter’s coach Lino Fermino Pereira-former National and MPT player, who was engaged by the Rajasthan Association at the eleventh hour said “he was very much content with the marvelous performance from his team, which had come from different quarters and had very little time to practice.
