RAIA: Santa Cruz Club Cavelossim got the better of Churchill Brothers Sports Club 3-2 in the Goa Pro League match at Rai Panchayat ground, here, on Tuesday.
The teams were locked 1-1 at full time.
Churchill Bros had an opportunity to take the lead in the very second minute as Basant Rai floated the ball to Pankaj Sona from the corner kick but Cavelossim defender Balwinder cleared the ball to safety.
Thereafter, Cavelossim’s Melwin Fernandes ballooned the ball over the crosspiece in the ninth minute from an ideal position.
However, just after the half hour mark, Manfred Rodrigues headed in the opener for Churchill Bros in the 35th minute of a cross by Pankaj but Cavelossim equalized soon through a spectacular free-kick from Mario Mascarenhas.
Change of sides saw both teams try to score. In the 46th minute, Churchill Bros’ Yendrenbham Metia sent in a fine through ball to Manfred Rodrigues but the latter squandered the opportunity by shooting wide off target.
At the other end, Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes’ tactics paid off as substitute Clencio Pinto gave them the lead in the 67th minute after giving finishing touches to a cross by Mario Mascarenhas.
Soon, another Cavelossim substitute Joshua Vaz slammed in a powerful left footer to make it 3-1 in the 80th minute.
However, The Red Machines reduced the margin through Jaison Vales’ long ranger in the 82nd minute.
