MAPUSA: Corps of Signals secured a narrow 1-0 win over Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, on Sunday.
Roshan Singh and Salam Singh were back in the starting XI for the Army men, whereas Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes chose to go with the same line from the last match except for the Perryson Fernandes who replaced Cayven Araujo in the playing XI for the South Goan club.
Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim who had stunned Churchill Brothers in their last match started the match on an attacking note.
Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim came close to scoring in the 6th minute as Perryson sent a perfect cross in the box to Mathew Colaco but the forward headed it in opposite direction, the ball later landed at Perryson feet who went for glory from 18yards only to see it go wide hairline distance.
A few minutes later, Mathew wasted another opportunity when he was fed by Moises D’Sa with a perfect lob pass but the striker failed to control his shot from the top of the box.
Whereas, the Army men who had gone down to Guardian Angel Sports Club in the last match had a chance to take the lead in the 20th minute when Pawan Thakur sent a perfect cross into the box from the free-kick to U-20 striker Cyril Dias but the forward failed to connect his header from point-blank range.
At the other end, Cavelossim’s Perryson was in the commanding position to score but his strike from inside the box was nicely saved by Corps of Signals keeper Niyas Mon.
A few minutes later, keeper Niyas once again came to rescue his side when he made a diving save to push away Allwyn Vaz’s strike at the cost of a corner.
The second session saw an equal fight from both the ends where Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim came up with the first attempt when Moises found Mathew with a curling cross after a short corner from Rohan Kamble but the striker failed to direct his header from close as the ball directly went into the waiting hands of keeper Niyas.
Whereas, Corps of Signals just in midfielder Lairollakpam Singh tried his luck from inside the box but keeper Siddesh Morje made a diving effort to push it for safety.
On the counter-attack, Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim’s fresh-legged striker Daulat Desai made a darting run cutting past few defenders but his powerful shot kissed the keeper’s gloves before hitting the goalpost.
After wasting few chances in both the halves, Corps of Signals finally scored in the 82 minute through substitute Vishnu Chetri.
Harshad Thube set up Lairollakpam with just keeper to beat with a neat through ball but the forward stroke on the keeper Siddesh as the ball rolled to unmarked Chetri who blasted it from close and booked all three points for his side.
