Two officials fail to report
TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: Portais Sporting Club improved their chances of qualifying for the play-off after thumping rivals CDJ Ribandar 5-1 in an Ilhas Zone GFA’s 3rd Division League match at Santa Cruz ground, Friday.
However, the crucial encounter was delayed for over 20 minutes as two officials failed to report for the match. Match Commissioner Gregory Estrocio then appointed the manager of CDJ Ribandar as the linesman while himself taking charge as the fourth official, after which the match got underway.
In the second half, Avinash Shirodkar took over the linesman’s duty after he made himself available at the request of the match commissioner.
CDJ Ribandar, however, took their opponents by surprise by forging into an early lead with Roshan Pednekar taking advantage off a misunderstanding between the rival goalkeeper and the defender to score in the 6th minute.
Needing a win to stay in contention for the play-off, Portais then levelled terms with Suraj Hadkonkar finding the back of the net and immediately thereafter Dean de Melo put Portais in front by heading a Jafar Khatib’s cross into the goal to give Portais a 2-1 lead before heading for the lemon break.
After resumption, Sachin Kundaikar sent his left footer into the right corner of the goal to increase Portais’ lead to 3-1.
CDJ Ribandar were unlucky not to have reduced the margin as Saish Korgaonkar’s shot was saved by Portais’ custodian Anand Adkonkar. Then, the horizontal bar came to the rescue of Portais with Sandesh Kavlekar’s shot hitting the cross bar and rebounding into play.
Dean de Melo then scored off a header for his second goal of the match to give Portais a commanding 4-1 lead.
At the other end, Portais’ goalie Anand made a smart save off a shot from Rohan Pednekar to deny CDJ Ribandar.
However, Portais hit the final nail in the coffin after Sachin Kundaikar scored his second to give his side a comfortable 5-1 win.
