TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-go.com
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy rallied to defeat nine-man Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in GFA’s U-20 First Division Taca Goa football league match at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Sporting Clube led 1-0 at half time. They took the lead through Mauvin Borges’ 31st minute penalty but Stephen Colaco equalized in the second session for Sesa FA and then, Gaurav Pednekar sealed three points in the final minute with a stunner.
Sesa secured their second victory in as many matches while their rivals have a point from their previous goalless draw with Salgaocar FC.
The teams made a bright start but it was Sesa FA that were successful in creating better openings in the initial stages. They had a good chance to open the scoring in the 19th minute when medio Stephen sent in an intelligent through ball to Jaison Vaz but the striker couldn’t finish with only Sporting Clube keeper Alison Fernandes at his mercy.
In the very next minute, Stephen fed in another clever ball in the rival territory but Alison made a timely collection to deny Olivin Cardozo from close.
At the other end, Sporting Clube down to ten-man in the 28th minute after center-back Charles Cardoz received his second booking, followed by the inevitable red card from Referee Valenton Fernandes for a clumsy tackle on Olivin at the edge of the box.
However, three minutes later Sporting Clube were awarded a penalty when Sesa’s Myran Pereira brought down Sporting Clube’s Aniket Mandrekar inside the danger zone. Mauvin stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick even as Sesa custodian Nitesh Gosavi got his gloves on the ball.
Sesa looked aggressive after resumption and equalized at the hour mark with Stephen’s delightful finish off an assist by Ganesh Thakur.
Sporting Clube played defensively in the final stages but skipper Jesus Estrocio couldn’t hold his nerve and received a second yellow for a reckless tackle, putting his team down to nine-man.
Sesa were all over their rivals as the match became frantic in the dying minutes. However, it was a 40-yard right-footer by Gaurav in the 90th minute that surprised Alison, 2-1.
