MAPUSA: A 48th minute strike by substitute Fhezer Gomes enabled Salgaocar FC to register a solitary goal win over Panjim Footballers in the Goa Professional League played at Duler stadium, here, on Thursday.
Both the teams played aggressively in the first session, where Panjim Footballers had held Churchill Brothers 1-1, while Salgaocar FC had defeated Dempo SC by 1-0 margin in the last GPL match.
Panjim Footballers had two clear chances in the first five minutes of the match.
Doyal Alves set up Nicklas Noronha right inside the Salgaocar’s 18-yard box but keeper Jason D’Mello left his charge to thwart the attack.
Three minutes later Salgaocar’s right back Umang Gaikwad came with a brilliant timely clearance before Nicklas could react.
At the other end Green Brigade also had two chances to break the deadlock.
Umang Gaikwad sent a pinpoint cross to striker U20 Shaviz Pathan just above the 6-yard box whose header went just over the cross bar.
Minutes later Shawn Pereira’s long ball at the goal area was headed for a corner by Panjim’s Dhiraj Chouhan before Shaviz could do any damage.
The Capital side colts exerted pressure but were unlucky as Dhiraj Chouhan header sailed over the cross bar while Frazier Castanha fierce shot hit defender for a corner.
In the last quarter of the match Panjim’s defender Dhiraj Chouhan once again came to his teams rescue as cleared the ball for a corner off Samuel Costa floater inside the penalty box.
While Samuel Costa 25-yard curling free kick was confidently collected by Panjim’s keeper Preston Rego.
Salgaocar coach Levino Pereira brought in two changes at the start of the second session, Fhezer Gomes and Antush Moniz, which brought tremendous pressure on the rival citadel.
In the 48th minute substitute Fhezer getting hold of a ball inside the penalty box finished it with a brilliant left footer giving no chance to keeper Preston Rego 1-0.
Fhezer Gomes should have doubled the lead in the 62nd minute when he beat the onrushing Panjim keeper but instead of taking a crack at the goal passed the ball to Steflon D’Costa who was late in giving the final touch.
Another chance went a begging for Green Brigade when Fhezer Gomes acute angle shot brushed keeper Preston Rego hand for a corner.
Fhezer Gomes received the man-of-the-match award from the hands of Sanjiv Nagvekar and Anthony Francis Vaz both GFA’s executive committee members.
