Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy registered a well deserved 2-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the CAM Goa Professional League played at Duler Stadium, here, on Thursday.
After Thursday’s win, Sesa FA has eight points from five matches while Panjim Footballers also has eight points but from seven matches.
Sesa FA having lost last GPL match to Sporting Clube de Goa came strongly in today’s match and pinned their opponents inside their territory for major part of the first session.
In the 13th minute, Sesa FA came close in opening their account where a stiff grounder by Kunal Salgaonkar was blocked by Panjim’s keeper Preston Rego and the ball rolled to Aman Rajbhar who was unlucky to see his strike rebounded of the goal post.
Sesa FA drew the first blood in the 20th minute where Akash Kudnekar sent a long cross from the right flank to overlapping Kunal at the far post, who acrobatically stretched his leg and scored 1-0.
Nine minutes later, Sesa FA should have doubled the lead but striker U-20 Aryan Salunke saw his power-packed right footer from outside the penalty box hit the horizontal bar.
Two more chances went a begging for Sesa FA where Aman Rajbhar strike was collected by keeper Preston while a placement by Aryan Salunke sneaked just past the goal post with keeper beaten.
On crossing over, capital side came with renewed ideas and had their first crack at the goal but Sesa FA’s keeper Roanal Gaunkar collected substitute Maximo D’Costa shot at the first post.
After 25 minutes of midfield tussle, Sesa FA’s Omkar Shetgaonkar free kick was brilliantly paired for a corner by keeper Preston Rego with a full stretched diving save.
Sesa FA coach brought in Thokchom Singh in the 75th minute, who collected a pass from the midfield and after moving past host of defenders drilled a hot blooded shot which missed the target narrowly.
A costly defensive error by Panjim Footballers stopper back Akash Banavalikar in the 88th minute saw substitute Clencio Pinto snatch the ball and roll it past the onrushing Panjim’s keeper into the goal 2-0.
Sesa FA’s Kunal received the man-of-the-match award which was presented by Pravin Dhabolkar, Goa Football Association’s Executive Committee member.
