Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Sachidanand Satelkar two-goal blitz enabled Sesa FA to register a 2-1 win over Dalbir FA in the I-League Division III match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Wednesday.
Sesa FA’s coach Charles Dias knowing full well that only a victory would qualify his team in the final round, brought four changes in his Starting XI - Shridharnath Gawas, Rohan Kambli, Clive Miranda and Sachidanand Satelkar.
After Wednesday’s win, Sesa FA topped the group with 8 points, while Dalbir FA secured the second place with six points.
All the goals came in the first session of play with Sachidanand netting a brace, while Tanveer Singh pulling a goal for Dalbir FC.
Sesa FA lads dominated right from the very start but Shridharnath saw two of his strikes, the first sail just over the crossbar, while the next 25-yard strike was blocked by Dalbir FA custodian Bharat Singh for a corner.
Another glorious chance went abegging for Sesa FA colts as a teasing cross by Thokchom Singh saw Omkar a bit late to connect.
Finally, in the 21st minute, Sesa FA broke the deadlock when medio Rohan Kamble sent a defence splitting pass to overlapping striker Sachidanand who after covering some ground drilled a stiff grounder which crashed into the far corner of the goal 1-0.
However, just two minutes later, Dalbir FA stunned their opponents with Tanveer Singh latching a 25-yard right footer, which crashed into the inner goal frame and the ball rolled into the goal 1-1.
Sesa FA continued to exert pressure on the rival citadel and once again took the lead in the 37th minute, where this time, Thokchom hoodwinked Dalbir FA’s Bhola Singh and on entering the 18-yard box sent a low cross at the goal where Sachidanand slammed the ball into the goal 2-1.
On crossing ends, Sesa FA had two chances to further increase their lead but a fierce strike by Thokchom hit the rival defender for a corner. And minutes later, Thokchom had just the Dalbir FA goalkeeper to beat the shot into the keeper’s gloves.
Sesa FA’s coach Charles Dias was proud of his players on winning the title. Yes we started at a slow pace having drawn our first two matches, but eventually won the last two matches which qualified our team for the final round.
Dalbir FA coach Satpal Singh praised his boys for winning two consecutive matches after losing their first match. He said a victory for them would have been an icing on the cake.
In the morning match, Garhwal Heroes FC registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over strong contenders Kerala United FC.
Seijoseph Haokip scored the all-important goal for Garhwal Heroes in the very second minute of the second session as he darted inside the penalty box and cooly placed the ball into the nets past the Kerala United FC custodian.
With the win, Garhwal Heroes FC have six points, while Kerala United FC have five points.