Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Sesa FA and Clube de Salgaocar were locked in a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League Super League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Both the teams knowing each other’s style of play, the teams’ defenders gave very little space for the strikers to have a good look at their goal.
Sesa FA with 28 points and Clube de Salgaocar with 27 points did come earnestly into the match to return home with a win but managed to add a point to their kitty.
In the closing period of the regulation time, Sesa FA almost scored. Substitute Omkar Shetgaonkar darted inside the 18-yard box and after dribbling past the defence placed the ball towards the goal only to find Clube de Salgaocar’s custodian Sanij Bugde retreat and gather the ball.
In another match, Dempo SC secured a 2-1 victory over Cortalim Villagers at Nagoa ground, with a late penalty sealing the deal.
Dempo SC took control early, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute. Beckham sliced through Cortalim Villagers’ defence with a perfectly timed through ball to Velanco, who squared it across the box for Salgeo Dias to slot home with a clinical low finish.
The Golden Eagles continued to press and nearly doubled their lead when Aryan Poll threaded a precise pass to Dias inside the box, but the forward’s strike sailed just wide.
Cortalim Villagers came out firing after the break and found their equaliser in style. Ronil Vaz’s pinpoint free-kick into the danger zone was met by Velroy Carvalho, who nodded it down for Jaison Vaz. Without hesitation, Jaison struck a stunning first-time half-volley past the keeper, restoring parity.
Dempo SC pushed forward in search of a winner and came agonisingly close when Murphy dispossessed Pushkar and teed up Shreyash Naik, whose thunderous shot rattled the crossbar. But the breakthrough arrived in the dying moments.
A curling corner from Topon Minj found Pratik Naik, whose header struck a defender’s hand, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Sairon Albuquerque stepped up and coolly dispatched the penalty, sealing all three points for Dempo SC.