MAPUSA: An 85th minute goal by striker Marcus Mascarenhas enabled Sporting Clube de Goa register a solitary goal win over Calangute Association SC in the GFA’s Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday.
Both the teams having lost their last league match started aggressively and played almost on equally footing in the first session.
Sporting Clube had better scoring opportunities, but early in the match Joyson Gauncar twice shot skywards from inside the 18-yard box.
In the 23rd minute, Calangute Association’s Jovito Fernandes dribbled past a host of rival defenders but delayed in slotting the ball into the goal.
Ten minutes later, Flaming Oranje lost a glorious chance to take the lead when Doyal Alves intelligently set up Joyson Gauncar inside the penalty spot but the later was thwarted by Calangute Association’s custodian Sanij Bugde.
Another chance went a begging for Calangute Association colts when a diagonal cross by U-21 Dalwin Coelho was intercepted for a corner by Sporting Clube’s defender Joyson Coutinho.
In the added time, a stinging direct free-kick by Sporting Clube’s Samuel Costa from the edge of the penalty box was brilliantly blocked by Calangute Association goalkeeper for a corner.
Just a minute at the start of the second session and Calangute Association’s custodian Sanij Bugde left his charge to bring down substitute Lloyd Cardozo outside the penalty box but was lucky to escape with just an yellow caution from Referee Raja Pir.
Sporting Clube had two more chances to take the lead but both the substitutes Llyod Mascarenhas and Rohan Rodrigues lobbed the ball over the onrushing Calangute Association’s goalkeeper.
When it looked the match was heading for a draw, substitute Marcus Mascarenhas ran upfront front from the left flank and entering the penalty box drilled a stiff grounder into the far corner of Calangute Association’s goal, 1-0.
Calangute Association’s Pratesh Shirodkar received the man-of-the-match award from Omkar Vaigankar, GFA’s executive committee member.
In another match played at Ella ground, Pax of Nagoa Sports Club thrashed Young Boys of Tonca 6-0. Shubert Pereira scored three goals in the 49th, 88th and 90+4 minute to complete, Jesloy netted two goals in the 59th and 74th minute to complete his brace and Delton added one to the scorers list.
