MAPUSA: Nestor Dias’ goal in the closing minutes of the regulation time enabled Football Club of Goa register a 1-0 win over Calangute Association in the ninth-round match of the GFA’s Professional league played at Duler Stadium, here on Thursday.
After Thursday’s match FC Goa have 11 points from seven matches, while Calangute Association stay on 15 points from nine matches.
Just when it looked both teams would be returning home with a point each after a goalless first half, Nestor Dias broke the hearts of Calangute fans by netting the winning goal in the 86th minute to give full three points to FC Goa.
In a keen tussle it was FC Goa who had the first attempt when Aaren D`Silva’s shot from close range was well dealt by Calangute’s keeper Sanij Bugde, while minutes later U20 Sweden Fernandes shot zoomed over the crossbar.
A lapse of concentration from Young Gaurs defender Brian Faria could have proved costly but thanks to keeper Antonio DaSilva who cleared the ball to safety before Calangute Daryl Costa could pounce on to the back pass.
In the 13th minute, FC Goa`s Flan Gomes getting hold off a pass from Christy Davis darted towards the goal and tried to hoodwink the Calangute keeper with a deft placement who stood his ground and stopped the shot using his legs.
FC Goa needing a win to get their league campaign back on track kept pressuring their rival citadel and were unlucky when Aaren’s header struck the Calangute upright but before any of his teammates could pounce on to the ball it was kept out by the defender.
In the 37th minute, Young Gaurs keeper Antonio Da Silva came to his side’s rescue when he left his charge in the nick of time to dispose Daryl Costa from scoring in a one to one situation after being put through by Valerio Rodrigues with an intelligent pass.
Crossing end, in the 50th minute a well-executed free-kick by FC Goa`s Nestor Dias found Aaren whose header missed the target by a whisker.
As the match progressed both teams tried to outwit each other by either making a positive substitution or changing the formation but just could not find the all-important goal until the 86th minute when Aaren D`Silva controlling a pass inside the box released it to Nestor Dias who without any second invitation fired the ball into the net to the jubilation of the entire FC Goa team, 1-0.
