MAPUSA: FC Goa had an easy outing in the inaugural match of Reliance Foundation Development Football League (Regional Qualifers-Goa) as they registered a 2-0 win over Sesa FA at Monte de Guirim ground, Thursday.
In Goa, the top two teams will automatically qualify for the national group stage. The top four teams from the national league will qualify to take on select Premier League clubs and South Africa’s PSL youth teams in the annual Premier League Next Generation tournament to be played in India later this year.
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FC Goa coach Deggie Cardozo fielded almost the full side that had the exposure in the ongoing Goa Professional League, while Sesa FA coach Charles Dias fielded just three Under-21 players as he has a GFA’s Goa Relegation match tomorrow.
It was the Young Gaurs who dominated the match and scored a goal in each session through skipper Lesly Rebello and substitute Salgeo Dias.
Young Gaurs should have taken the lead in the very 2nd minute but Salgeo fumbled to connect Deeshank Kunkalikar’s deadly cross.
As the match progressed Young Gaurs, time and again, attacked the rival citadel but Leewan Castanha, Malsawmtluanga missed sitters while Mallikjan Kalegar’s cross was palmed to safety by Sesa’s goalkeeper Megh Morajkar.
It was in the 33rd minute that Young Gaurs tasted success when skipper Lesly Rebello rose to connect Malsawmtluanga’s free-kick 1-0. Three minutes later, Salgeo should have made it 2-0 but saw his placement go out after Vellington
Fernandes had done the spadework.
On crossing ends, in the 53rd minute, Young Gaurs substitute Saish Gaunkar dribbled past the rival left back and after covering some ground sent a pinpoint cross to unmarked Salgeo who nodded the ball home.
Saish who was instrumental in the second goal should have added his name to the scorers list but saw his rasping right footer from outside the penalty box being brilliantly fisted over for a corner by the Sesa goalkeeper.
Sesa FA had just one close attempt at the rival goal in the added time but Young Gaurs custodian Hritik Tiwari left his charge and thwarted Ngathem Metei in a one- to-one situation.
