Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Goa Police Sports Club came from a goal down to hold FC Goa to a 2-2 draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
Finally, Goa Police managed to open their account with a point, while FC Goa have seven points.
Both the teams having lost their last GPL match, FC Goa to Geno FC and Goa Police to Sporting Clube de Goa came strongly into the match to return home with a victory. When the match was just in the first quarter, the teams were locked in a 1-1 draw.
In the very 5th minute, Young Gaurs’ Malsawmtluanga corner was headed by Wesley D’Sa to his teammate U-21 Sitroy Carvalho, who coolly nodded the ball into the far corner of the goal, 1-0.
It did not take long for Goa Police to get their equalizer, which came in the 11th minute of play.
Striker Kunal Salgaonkar moved dangerously inside the 18-yard box from the right flank by dribbling past a host of rival defenders where defender Sitroy Carvalho brought a harsh tackle to stop him from moving forward. Referee Kashinath Kamat without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot and awarded a penalty. Kunal stepped forward and scored 1-1.
As the match progressed, both the custodians came with brilliant saves.
Young Gaurs’ Konsam Singh strike from the edge of the box was pushed by Goa Police custodian Saiesh Kunkolkar for corner, while at the other end Goa Police Mayuresh Naik stiff grounder from inside the 18-yard box slipped from the gloves of Young Gaurs goalkeeper Lionel Rymmei for a corner. In the last quarter of the first session, once again both the custodians came to their teams rescue. Goa Police’s Mayuresh Naik strike and Young Gaurs’ Shawn Fernandes strike were saved by the custodians.
On crossing ends, in the 53rd minute, Young Gaurs’ Asher Rodrigues corner was paired by Goa Police custodian towards substitute Jovial Dias, who drilled the ball past the rival goalkeeper to make it 2-1.
Jovial should have doubled his lead but he blasted the ball over the crossbar from just outside the penalty box. While Young Gaurs failed to score, at the other end, Deepak Naik found Gauresh Desai at the far end, who nodded the ball into the goal 2-2.
In the stoppage time, Goa Police skipper Harshad Gaonkar tackled Young Gaurs Jovial inside the 18-yard box prompting Referee Kashinath Kamat to point to the dreaded spot. Goa Police players rushed to the Referee Kashinath but the official displeased with the decision after consulting his Assistant Yuvraj Tari changed his decision in awarding a corner to FC Goa instead of a penalty.
At Sirsaim ground, Sesa Football Academy managed to hold Clube de Salgaocar SC to 1-1 draw. Selwyn Miranda opened the account for Clube de Salgaocar in the 33rd minute of the first session only to find Vignesh Naik equalise for Sesa FA in the 48th minute of the second session.
