VASCO: Goa overpowered Maharashtra 4-1 to top the West Zone Qualifiers of the 70th Senior National Football championship for the Santosh Trophy, at Tilak Maidan, here, on Thursday.
Goa top group with 12 points from four matches. Scored 22 goals and conceded just two. They qualify with Maharashtra for the final round to be played in Nagpur.
Subsequently, Goa’s Agnelo Colaco ballooned over in the 10th minute after being set by Semson Fernandes.
Mervin Stephen was in thick of action for Maharashtra as he came close to scoring on two separate occasions in the 11th and 13th minute but shot wide.
In the 15th minute, Maharashtra were reduced to 10 man as goalkeeper and captain Owais Khan was given the marching orders by match referee Maria Joseph for a reckless tackle on striker Semson Fernandes, who was in a goal scoring position.
The visitors did not give up and regrouped with even their strikers Mervin Stephen and Raynier Fernandes dropping in the defence to help their teammates.
Goa could have taken the lead as Mario Mascarenhas sent a dangerous cross which rival defender Dion Menezes cleared partially and the ball fell in the path of Velito D’Cruz, who could not find the target.
Maharashtra finally conceded in the 46th minute as Semson finished with a deft placement after being set up by Agnelo Colaco.
Changing over, Agnelo headed in to make it 2-0 for Goa in the 71st minute.
Spurred by the two goal advantage, Mario added another in the 81st minute but Maharashtra pulled a goal back through Vuith Shetty, four minutes later.
In the injury time, Goa’s substitute striker Milagres Gonsalves made it 4-1 after giving finishing touches to a ball from Nickson Castanha.
Goa’s Head Coach, Alfred Fernandes was delighted with the show put in by his team and said, “Our game plan worked perfectly with a fit squad and the fans who came in large number also motivated the boys. All players played well with dedication, concentration and with men-to-men marking. The team needs to be lauded for their effort.
T Vaz, Technical Director of Maharashtra said, “The defence line cost us dearly in the 15th minute of the first half which led to the sending off our custodian. It slowed down the team’s performance. We had much more expectation but they defended well but eventually collapsed in the second half.”
Vaz also informed that his team had seven players with their roots in Goa with most of the players coming from the University level.
