MAPUSA: Punjab registered a hard fought 1-0 win over Goa in their last league match of the Junior Boys’ National Football Championship for Dr B C Roy Trophy 2023-24 (Tier 1 Group stage), held at Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, here on Sunday.
Punjab made it to the next round with six points while Goa had four points.
Both the teams played almost on equal footing but Punjab opened their account in the 42nd minute when Pradeep set up Gutsajan Singh inside the penalty box, who drove the ball past Goa custodian, 1-0.
On crossing over Goa time and again attacked the rival citadel.
Skipper Asher Rebello guided his players from the defense and in the 75th minute Goa were rewarded a penalty when Leonard Rebello was brought down in the 18-yard box, but Sangam Shetye spot kick was saved by the Punjab custodian.
In the last quarter of the match Ravi Patel strike was saved by the goalkeeper, while Favio Martins goal bound shot rebounded off the Punjab crossbar.
Goa were indeed unlucky as Johnson strike sailed inches past the horizontal bar in the dying minutes, to the dismay of his teammates.
