Team Herald
MAPUSA: Calangute Association SC played their hearts out to hold strong contenders Sporting Clube de Goa to a goalless draw in a Goa Super League football match at Duler stadium here, on Friday.
After today’s drawn encounter Sporting has 22 points while Calangute Association has 19.
The teams played cautiously with Calangute’s medio Pratesh Shirodkar controlling the midfield with the assistance of his skipper Saeesh Halarnkar while at the other end Sporting’s medio Lloyd Mascarenhas worked
tirelessly in the midfield along with Ivon Costa.
Both coaches strengthened their defences, with Sporting coach Armando Colaco inducting his skipper Clive Miranda and Alton Vaz as stopper-backs while Calangute in-charge, Alex Alvares started with Nitesh Hazra and Melvin Lobo as his team’s stopper-backs.
In the entire first session, the teams had just one chance each to take the lead. A fierce header by Joywin Carneiro off Jovel Martins corner was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Sporting’s goalkeeper Under-20 Bhasker Jalmi.
At the other end, a flag kick by Nickson Castanha was cleared for a corner by defender Melvin Lobo. Off the resultant corner, goalkeeper Presley Mascarenhas effected a good save.
Sporting dominated the exchanges after the break. A goal-bound effort by Chandan Gawas was saved by goalkeeper Presley and a minute later Nickson Castanha strike was blocked at the expense of a corner by defender Melvin Lobo.
Sporting almost scored in the 55th minute as goalkeeper Presley made a mess with a high ball collection from Chandan Gawas but before Joyson Gauncar could toe the ball in, Presley managed to grab it.
Sporting kept on dominating and never allowed Calangute’s Junior Carret any space to operate upfront with defender Alton Vaz in top form.
It looked as if Sporting would break the deadlock in the 71st minute, but
goalkeeper Presley effected a breath-taking clearance as he left his charge
to thwart Sporting’s striker Lloyd Cardozo in a one-to-one situation.
At the other end, a sharp cross by Pratesh Shirodkar saw Nitesh Hazra heading it over the crossbar.
In the last ten minutes, Sporting pinned their opponents inside their own territory with stopper back Melvin Lobo and goalkeeper Presley time and again coming to their team’s rescue.
Calangute’s Joywin Carneiro received the man-of-the match award from Jaju Fernandes.
