MAPUSA: Goan Warriors Football Club huffed and puffed their way to a well-deserved 2-1 win over St Anthony’s Sports Club Marna in the eighth-round league match of the GFA 2nd Division League, played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Thursday.
Both teams –at different ends of the table –needed a win to achieve their target. St Anthony’s Marna, who are on 15 points, were eyeing the playoff qualification spot while Goan Warriors, with just 6 points, were fighting relegation battle. However it was Goan Warriors who just like their name fought bravely to return home with all three points with Pundalik Naik scoring both the goals in the second session.
In the 9th minute, Oscar D’Souza’s well-connected volley from a cross by Gopi Gad was acrobatically saved by Marna’s keeper, Vinit Agarwadekar. Goan Warriors scuffed a golden chance in the 27th minute when Pundalik Naik saw his spot kick go wide, which was awarded by referee Tejas Nagvekar after Oscar D’Souza was hackled down by Marna’s Anselm D’Souza.
Marna were unlucky in the 34th minute when striker Pushparaj Mandrekar’s fierce strike from the edge of the box hit defender Jayganesh Goltekar’s leg and went out for a corner. However, minutes later Goan Warriors’ Shivanand Naik tackled Pushparaj Mandrekar inside the penalty box and referee Tejas without any hesitation pointed to the spot. Marna’s Sahil Pomburpekar who stepped forward, calmly dispatched the ball into the net opening the score line for his side. Marna had two decent chances of settling the game in their favour on resumption of the second half but keeper, Soma Korgaonkar brought breathtaking saves to deny Mayuresh Naik and Sangam Pednekar from finding the target.
Goan Warriors rallied strongly and stunned St Anthony’s Marna with two quick goals through Pundalik Naik who finished clinically on both occasions to set up a tense finish, 2-1.
Marna nearly scored the equalising goal in 75th minute, but Vipul Pednekar was judged offside by assistant referee Akshay and the goal was ruled out by referee Tejas.
