MAPUSA: New entrants Sesa Football Academy fought gallantly to hold defending champions FC Goa to a 1-1 draw in the round three match of the GFA’s Professional League, at Duler stadium, here, on Friday.
In a well contested encounter both the teams kept their supporters glued to their seats till the final hooter, where the goals came in the second session of play.
Hayden Fernandes opened the account for Young Gaurs, while U-20 Richard Cardozo cancelled the lead.
It was some outstanding defending and goalkeeping by both the custodians that saw the teams head into the dressing goalless.
Sesa’s Charles Dias was retained as head coach in Friday’s encounter where he brought just one change by starting with their new signing striker Laishram Benjohnson Mettei, while FC Goa coach Derrick Pereria brought two changes by starting with Nestor Dias and Sarineo Fernandes.
The Young Gaurs had first good look at the rival goal in the 11th minute, but Sesa keeper Sapam Singh managed to push the ball for a corner with a diving save off a goal bound strike from Lalawmpuia.
Sesa regrouped themselves and pinned their opponents inside their half for the next twenty minutes with a series of attack.
In the 15th minute, U-20 Richard Cardozo found his teammate Laishram inside the penalty box, but the latter failed to direct his header into the goal.
Richard was once again in action as he curled the ball at the goal area but the Young Gaurs defender Brian Faria cleared the ball for a corner before striker Olvin Cardozo could create any damage.
As the match progressed, Sesa’s Myran Pereira and Vishnu Gosavi failed to score from two open sitters.
The Young Gaurs too had their chances to take the lead in the last quarter of the match but Lalawmpuia scorching 25-yard shot was paired over the crossbar by Sesa keeper Sapam Singh, while a 40-yard dipping shot by Kapil Hoble struck the horizontal bar.
At the other end, in the closing stages of the first session Sesa’s Laishram Meitei collected a short pass from Domnic Soares and drilled a low shot at the goal which was pushed for a corner by keeper Antonio Da Silva with a full stretched diving save and then in the injury time a power-packed 30-yard shot by Domnic Soares was superbly fisted over the crossbar by Young Gaurs keeper Antonio.
On crossing ends, hardly had the spectators taken their seats in the stadium, the Young Gaurs opened their account.
A long floater by skipper Leander DCunha at the goal was cleared by Sesa defender Melvin Lobo and the ball travelled to unmarked Hayden Fernandes who took the rival defenders and keeper by surprise by drilling a low shot at the far corner of the goal to give his side the lead.
Sesa outfit stung by the reverse went all out in search of the equaliser where finally in the 67th minute they tasted success. U-20 Richard Cardozo was rewarded for all the hard work in the match as he collected a through pass from Domnic Soares and moving inside the penalty box from the right flank scored with a stiff grounder past the rival diving keeper Antonio.
Sesa colts were awarded a direct free-kick a minute before the end of the regulation time when substitute Kunal Salgaonkar was brought down by Brian Faria just on top of the penalty box but Olvin shot wide.
Speaking after the match, Sesa coach Charles Dias said, “I am proud of my boys. They played exceptionally well. They had a good first half and should have taken their chances. Overall I am happy with a point in this match.”
