AGENCIES, ASSAM: Goa recorded their second win following their 2-1 victory against Arunachal Pradesh in the 76th Senior National football championship for men for Santosh Trophy, at Assam, on Sunday.
Goa coach Nortberto Gonsalves made some changes in the team with Stendly Fernandes back in the playing XI. Domnic Stores and Mohammed Faheem started for Goa.
Goa had an early chance at the rival goal but Trijoy Dias saw his shot from outside the box, caught a deflection of a rival defender and went straight to the keeper.
In the first quarter, Faheez had a chance to put Goa ahead when on receiving a pass from midfield, the youngster danced his way past a couple of rival defenders, however, his low shot was saved by the keeper. He was denied for the second time by the keeper, who earlier came with another fine save.
However, in the 19th minute, Faheez punished Arunachal Pradesh when he dispossessed the defender and brilliantly dribbled the keeper to slot home into an empty net to put Goa ahead in the game.
Arunachal Pradesh put up a strong fight, however, couldn’t break the Goa defence led by Shallum Pires and Clive Miranda.
In the 28th minute, Goa doubled the lead when a long ball, from their own, found Trijoy Dias at the halfway mark. The No. 9 brilliantly controlled the ball and took on a couple of defenders before flicking it past the rival defender from an acute angle, scoring his second goal of the competition. Goa led 2-0 at the break.
In the second half, just minutes after coming on in the game, Taba Heli made an immediate impact scoring for Arunachal Pradesh. Goa goalkeeper Hansel Coelho failed to deal with a cross from the left and the ball fell to an unmarked Heli, who got the ball on his right foot and slammed into the net to make it 1-2.
In the 78th minute, Goa had a chance to consolidate the lead when Shallum Pires set Clencio Pinto on the right flank from a quick free-kick. The Sesa FA striker sprinted on the line and squared a brilliant ball in the box to Mohammed Faheem, however, the striker couldn’t get his strongest touch in the area, with the goalkeeper already beaten.
Minutes later, it was Stendly Fernandes who broke into the danger area with a fine run from the left, but his cut back pass was intercepted by the Arunachal defender before he could find Trijoy.
