DULER: Calangute Association put up a brave performance to get the better of stalwarts Churchill Brothers SC by a 2-1 win in the Group A of the Goa Police Cup, organized by Goa Police Sports Cell in association with Vasco Sports Club and GFA, at Duler Stadium, here, on Tuesday.
All the goals were scored in the first session of play.
Pankaj Sona gave Churchill an early 8th minute lead only to see Agnelo Colaco and Yogesh Kadam fire in one goal each to give Calangute full three points.
It was Calangute who had two clear attempts of breaking the deadlock; however Agnelo Colaco and Newton Azavedo failed from handshaking distance.
At the other end Churchill managed to forge ahead in the 8th minute of play when Pankaj Sona on receiving a long floater inside the danger zone, fired in a blistering right footer which left the Calangute keeper stranded.
A minute into the match Churchill almost scored their second goal of the evening, however Calangute’s Savio Quadros came with a timely goal line clearance to deny Sandeep Subba strike from entering the nets.
After several failed efforts Calangute managed to level terms in the 20th minute of play when Steven Fernandes ran down the left flank and sent a curling cross into the Churchill 6-yard box which was pushed away by Churchill custodian Aliston Fernandes while Agnelo Colaco who was lurking nearby got hold of the ball and fired the ball home in style.
Boosted by the goal and the vociferous crowd support, Calangute stepped up the attacking tempo but Agnelo Colaco failed to get the ball past the keeper on two occasions.
Calangute finally managed to take the lead in the 34th minute of play when Yogesh Kadam got hold of the ball from the midfield and after covering a few yards unleashed a power packed shot which caught keeper Aliston on the wrong foot, 2-1.
Crossing over, Churchill tried their level best to get back into the match, however first Sagar Limbo failed to direct his header into the Calangute goal and then Pankaj Sona failed to score from the penalty spot after the referee Prasad Sulekar found Olan Chandran guilty of handling the ball inside the danger zone.
Calangute came close to further inflating the lead but first Yogesh Kadam saw his strike ricochet off the Churchill woodwork and then Blake Haldankar’s goal bound effort was cleared away for a corner by the defender.
At full time the scoreline read 2-1.
