Team Herald
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy came from a goal down to score twice to edged past Garhwal Heroes Football Club by 2-1 margin in the I-League Division III League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday.
Both the teams played aggressively, knowing full well that only a victory in today’s match would keep their teams in contest.
After the match, Sesa FA have five points, while Garhwal Heroes FC have three points with both teams having just one match in hand. It was Sesa FA that had better ball possession and attacks at the rival goal in the first 25 minutes of the match.
Sesa FA’s Savlon Fernandes moved dangerously inside the penalty box from the right flank and sent a diagonal pass to his team mate Chaitan Dabholkar but Garhwal skipper Sandip Patra brilliantly blocked the ball for a corner. From the resultant corner Chaitan’s bicycle kick hit defender.
As the match progressed in the 24th minute, Aman Rajbhar sent a perfect cross to Thokchom Singh whose header was saved by Garhwal Garhwal FC custodian Vansh Kaushal.
In a counter attack, Garhwal Heroes FC’s Sonu Halder drilled a power-packed left footer from just outside the 6-yard box which hit Sesa FA defender’s leg and the ball rolled into the goal 1-0.
Garhwal Heroes FC should have doubled their lead in the 33rd minute but a weak shot by Rohan Manar was collected by Sesa FA’s goalkeeper Roanal Gaunkar.
Minutes later, a thundering strike by Rohan Manar rebounded off the goal post.
At the very start of the second session, Garhwal Heroes FC’s Prananjay Singh and Sesa FA’s Thokchom Singh strikes missed the target narrowly.
In the 69th minute, Garhwal Heroes FC’s goalkeeper Vansh brought a brilliant save to deny Thokchom Singh from scoring.
Finally, a minute later, Russell Vaz strike from inside the penalty box was handled by rival defender prompting Referee Nripen Halidar to point to the dreaded spot. Sesa FA’s substitute Shlok Tiwari stepped forward and scored, 1-1.
As the match progressed, two more changes went abegging for Sesa FA colts with Shlok Tiwari and Sankalp Kankonkar strikes coming of the post.
In the 89th minute, Thokchom Singh’s corner saw Garhwal Heroes FC’s custodian fumble in his collection to find Sankalp Kankonkar, who was lurking nearby head the ball home, to send teammates and supporters into raptures, 2-1.
In the morning match, Dalbir Football Academy managed to edge past Maharashtra Oranje FC by 2-1 margin. Tanveer Singh scored a brace for Dalbir FA, while Duane D’Souza pulled a goal for Maharashtra Oranje FC.
