Team Herald
MAPUSA: PVC Parra came for a goal deficit to hold table toppers Chapora Yuvak Sangh to a 1-1 draw in the GFA’s Second Division League, at Duler Stadium, here, on Wednesday.
Chapora YS with 20 points are still top the league table after eight matches, while PVC Parra also have 20 points from eight matches but are second due to poor goal difference.
Both the teams started aggressively, but Chapora marched into the dressing room with a goal cushion after scoring through Pratik Dhargalkar.
It was the Parra colts that had more of ball possession and strikes at the rival goal but Chapora’s custodian Soma Korgaonkar brought up a breathtaking one- on-one save against Cyprian Rodrigues and minutes later fisted a fierce strike from Sahil Jalmi for a corner.
Early in the match, Parra’s Pawan Kurade found Joston Cardoz at the far end of goal, whose shot hit the top corner of the goal.
Chapora unit too had their chances, where a deadly cross by Sankalp Kankonkar was timely cleared for a corner by Parra’s defender Aniket Kerkar before Chandan Govenkar could connect the ball.
In the 34th minute, Chapora’s live wire Sachidanand Satelkar who is the highest goal scorer passed the ball to unmarked Pratik Dhargalkar who latched a power packed left footer to the far corner of the goal to give his side the lead.
On crossing ends, the Parra unit came back strongly but Pawan Kurade’s 20-yard shot sailed inches over the crossbar while a cross by Noel D’Silva was parried by Chapora’s goalkeeper Soma to safety.
However, the custodian could do very little to stop Parra’s Shadab Sheikh’s header from entering the goal for the precious equaliser.
Chapora’s substitute Arjun Shetgaonkar had two chances to once again put his team ahead, but first his strike went just past the goal post, while a stiff grounder from close was excellently saved by Parra’s goalkeeper Ritesh Narvekar.
At Guirim ground, Vagator PYSC defeated Assonora United FC by a two goal margin. Kunal Virnodkar and Dawson Costa were the goal scorers.
At Salvador do Mundo ground: Bidesh XI got the better of Pilerne SC 5-3.
