TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Sesa Football Academy grounded Margao Sports Club 3-1 in a round six match of Goa Airtel Pro League football at Duler Stadium, here, Saturday. There was no score at half time.
Margao defended throughout the first session but their citadel collapsed in the 60th minute when Sesa broke the deadlock through Gammy Costa. The academy boys then scored another two goals through Glan Martins and Yogesh Kadam in the final quarter. Margao’s Danny Dias scored a consolation goal in the injury time.
Sesa have collected seven points and are in the seventh position while Margao are yet to open their account after suffering their sixth consecutive defeat.
Sesa started off on an attacking note with quick short passes and kept their rivals off-balance. Left-back Agnelo Quadros sent a clever through ball that found Agnelo Colaco, who set up Olvin Cardozo inside the danger area but the latter’s rasping right-footer kissed the horizontal in the 12th minute.
Margao played defensively as they usually do in the first session. They had only one try at the target in the 20th minute in the form of Benny Oliveira’s out of the box grounder which did not trouble Sesa custodian Thockchom Singh.
At the other end, Sesa passed the ball with ease and enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession. Midfielders Paresh Korgaonkar and Sahil Tavora fed their forwards regularly but they lacked finishing.
At the half hour mark, Sesa brought in striker Yogesh Kadam in place of Olvin Cardozo. Yogesh quickly got involved and released the ball to Glan Martin, who cleverly set up Caitano Viegas, who made a swift run forward from defence but his powerful shot was parried away by Margao goalkeeper Gurdev Singh.
Just before the lemon break, Agnelo Colaco beautifully curled a free-kick past the six-man wall but he was unlucky as his effort hit the upright and went out of play.
Changing over, Margao had a glorious chance to score when Monty Valadares set up Wilred Gomes but the striker shot wide with only goalkeeper Thockchom at his mercy.
Sesa, continued their dominance and broke the deadlock at the hour mark when substitute Gammy Costa’s hot-blooded long ranger took goalkeeper Gurdev by surprise.
Spurred by the success, Sesa could have doubled their lead but goalkeeper Gurdev tipped over a dangerous free-kick from Paresh.
Subsequently, goalkeeper Gurdev made another crucial save, this time denying Sesa’s Perryson Rebello from close range off a cross from Gammy.
In the 80th minute, Sesa scored their second when Glan received a through ball from Gammy and got past the rival custodian to coolly slot home in the empty goal.
Then, Yogesh made it 3-0 with a neat finish. However, in the injury time, Danny scored a consolation goal for Margao.
