MAPUSA: Calangute Association put up a brave performance to hold defending champions Sporting Clube de Goa to a 0-0 draw, in the GFA’s Pro League match, at Duler stadium, on Tuesday.
Calangute Assn now have five points from four matches, while Sporting stand with five points from three matches.
Both the sides matched each other’s skills thereby restricting play to the midfield for major duration of the match.
In the early third minute of the match, Valerio sent a deep cross into the Sporting Clube’s danger zone which found Kouame Joseph Yao, however the latters firm header struck the woodwork and bounced back into play.
In the 21st minute Glen Martins sneaked his way into the Calangute Assn citadel and leapt high above his marker to get his head to the ball, however Calangute Assn keeper Melroy Fernandes did well to tip the ball over.
At the other end, Sunny Fernandes got hold of the ball from Valerio Rodrigues and charged into the Sporting territory and unleashed a powerful shot inside the penalty area which brushed the legs of the keeper and went out of play.
In the resultant corner kick, Sporting Clube’ keeper managed to push away the ball which then travelled to Calangute’s Melvin Lobo, however his strike banged the side post to the dismay of the large number of Calangute supporters.
The Sporting colts came teasingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute of play when Akeraj Martins sent a defense splitting past to Victorino Fernandes, but before the lanky striker could aim goalwards, Calangute keeper Melroy charged forward and thwarted his effort.
Crossing over both the sides used up all their substitutions in order to change the fate of the match; however the match winning goal was nowhere in sight, as the scoreboard read 0-0 at the end of the normal regulation time.
