DULER: Corps of Signals struggled before scrapping past Calangute Association by a solitary goal in the in GFA’s Professional League, played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
In their first leg encounter Corps of Signals defeated Calangute by 2-1.
Both the sides displayed some enterprising soccer where it was Calangute Association that had the first crack at the rival goal when in the 20th minute Pedro Gonsalves unleashed a power packed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box which missed the Corps of Signals goal by a whisker.
In the 35th minute Sumit Tappo who came in for U-20 Rinjoy Fernandes proved to be a lucky charm for Signals, as his first strike at goal was too hot for Calangute keeper Melroy Fernandes to handle and the ball travelled to unmarked Vishnu Chetri who pounced on the opportunity and slotted the ball home to give his team the lead making it 1-0.
Signals keeper Ozen Vivian Silva proved to be a match savior for his side as he displayed some brilliant antics under the horizontal bar time and again to frustrate the Calangute Association strikers.
In the 40th minute Calangute Associations defender Bonny Niasso saw long range shot being pushed away for a corner by the diving Signals custodian. Minutes later keeper Ozen once again did well to get his hands to Sunny Fernandes’s placing strike.
In the final moments of the first session Signals almost surrendered their one goal advantage when Sunny got hold of keeper Ozen’s throw, however the keeper showed quick reflexes and got hold of the ball before the striker could aim goal wards.
On resumption of play, Calangute came teasingly close to restoring parity when Agnelo Colaco saw his curling free kick bang the Signals upright where Calangute strikers Pedro and Sunny were a wee bit late to tap the ball off the rebound home.
Keeper Ozen once again came with a brilliant save in the 75th minute when he swayed away Agnelo Colaco’s free kick for a corner.
Couple of minutes later Nigerian import Yusif Mohammad saw his fierce grounder being collected by the diving Signals keeper Ozen.
Minutes into the match Yusif Mohammad effort at goal was kept away by Signals defender Amit and then minutes later Yusif failed to give finishing touches to Sunny Fernandes cross.
The Calangute colts tried their level best to wipe out the goal deficit however the much needed goal eluded them till the very end.
