MAPUSA: Joel Sunday and Ribhav Sardessai scored in the second half as Salgaocar Football Club registered hard fought 2-1 win over Calangute Association in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, on Thursday.
Salgaocar were in poor form as they were yet to register a win in the league, while the beachside were unbeaten in the league however they had dropped points against Vasco SC and Goan FC in their last two matches.
Goalkeeper Abijit Das and U-20 striker Ribhav were back in the Salgaocar side while another U-20 striker Shayne Rodrigues made his GPL debut for the Green Brigade. Meanwhile, Calangute coach Alex Alvares was forced to make few changes as injured Josely Dias and Aniket Mandrekar were replaced by Omkar More and Blake Haldankar in the starting XI.
Both the teams started with end-to-end affair but their every move was killed by either side’s defence which ended up when Calangute came up with first effective attack in the 11th minutes when Bonny Niasso tried to find onrushing striker Leslee Britto with a long-distance cross but Salgaocar keeper Das advanced to collect the ball before the striker could reach to it.
A minute later, Calangute’s Domnic Fernandes sparkling long ranger missed the target by whisker.
Salgaocar regrouped from continuous attacks and marched on the opponents where they came with a series of attacks but first Umesh Harijan’s weak header off Shayne was comfortably collected by Calangute keeper Jason D’Mello.
Next, Brian Mascarenhas saw his free-kick brilliantly pushed away for safety by
Calangute shot-stopper Jason.
In between these Brian was injured and replaced by Gilbert Oliveira and the winger could have scored from his first touch when Ribhav found him with an excellent through ball but Gilbert’s curling shot missed the target my hairline distance with every opponent beaten.
At the other end, Calangute’s Leslee had a golden chance to take his side into the lead when he got hold of a short pass from Joston Pereira in the box but the frontman shot wide from 10-yards.
However, Calangute opened their tally in the 39th minutes when Omkar made stretching efforts to put the ball home from close after Blake’s shot hit a defender and reached to him as the North Goa team went into the breather with a goal lead.
However, they could not hold the lead for even a minute after the resumption of play as Salgaocar found the equaliser in the very first minute when Nigerian strike force Sunday smartly headed in from inside the box off Mackroy Peixote corner restoring the parity for the former I-League side.
A very next minute, Sunday should have taken his side into the lead when he was with just keeper to beat but the striker failed to shot wide from inside the box, frustrating all his teammates and coaching staff.
Omkar also had a chance to once again put his side ahead when he was in the commanding position to score but could not control his shot from close as the ball went out for a goal-kick.
In the 72nd minute, Salgaocar U-20 striker upset the home supporters when his low shot from the edge of the box after receiving a short pass from Sunday, finished in the net outreaching the helpless keeper Jason who watched in go inside from the far post, making it 2-1 for Salgaocar.
Calangute had the last chance in the added time when just-in winger Newton Azavedo sent a cross in the box to Kouame Joseph but his shot was brilliantly pushed for a corner by Salgaocar keeper Das, confirming the first victory of the season.
