Team Herald
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LUDHIANA/PANJIM: Goa scored a resounding 4-2 win over Delhi in their second Group A match of the Final Round of National Football Championship for Hero Santosh Trophy 2018-19 played at Ludhiana, on Friday.
Chaitan Komarpant, Glan Martins, Lalwanpuia and Stendly Fernandes scored for Goa.
“Good result for us as the boys had an outstanding game. The played as a unit and this is more important for a team. The good thing is that we managed to convert the chances that we had and overall I am happy with the team performance,” said Goa coach Samir Naik.
Goa led 1-0 at the break with Chaitan putting Goa ahead with a well deserved goal. Sporting Clube’s Glan Martin after doing the initial spadework played it through to Chaitan, who smashed it past the helpless keeper.
Goa’s Peter Carvalho displayed an outstanding game in the midfield and showcased that experience does count in high intensity games. The former Dempo SC midfielder marshalled the midfield spraying passes and recovering the lost possession whenever required.
In the second half, Goa scored their second through Glan Martins who scored off a rebound when a Goan player’s effort came off the post and the Sporting Club midfielder scored from close to make it 2-0.
The third goal was a brilliant effort from Lalwanpuia, who on receiving the pass from the midfield rolled the ball from between the keeper’s legs to make it 3-0. The FC Goa development squad player has now scored in both the games for Goa.
But it wasn’t over, Goa, who dominated the entire game outplaying their opponents still had time to score their fourth goal and this came from another youngster Stendly Fernandes.
Stendly collected a loose ball in the midfield and covered some ground before slamming a 18-yard shot which had no answer from the keepers, 4-0.
However, in the final ten minutes of the game Delhi went all out and won two penalties, wherein they converted both of them to reduce the deficit to make it 2-4.
Goa play Odisha next on April 14. “We now concentrate on our next game and hopefully will try and grab full points,” said coach Samir.
