gfa 1st division
MARGAO,JAN 5
Corps of Signals had the best possible start in their GFA First Division League campaign with a fluent 3-1 win over Calangute Association at 3MTR ground, Navelim on Wednesday. The teams were tied 1-1 at the breather.
The highlight of the day was a splendid brace by midfielder Budi Bahadur.
Both teams displayed attacking football and kept their goalkeepers busy in the opening session. Signals slowly took over the reins and asserted the midfield supremacy with Budi Bahadur controlling play as he kept their forwards busy with a stream of passes.
Signals broke the deadlock in the 5th minute when playmaker Budi Bahadur received a pass from the flank and punished the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot.
Stung by the early setback, Calangute Association regrouped quickly and instantly took the fight to the rival camp and in the 15th minute striker Manuel Crasto neutralized the lead with a stiff grounder.
Spurred by the equalizer, Calangute Association piled on the pressure and created many openings but their captain Sahdab Shaikh was the culprit as he alone spurned two easy chances in a one-to-one situation.
Crossing over, Signals put up a better display with Pankaj Gurkha coming close but he faltered in an one-to-one situation as he shot wide.
Midway in the second session, Calangute Association nearly scored but striker Shadab Shaikh’s feeble push went into the safe hands of Signals goalkeeper Nibn Koshy. Calangute Assocation missed a golden opportunity to wrap up the match as Pedro Gonsalves failed to beat the rival goalkeeper.
Veteran striker Surajit Mondal, who came from the bench, beat the rival goalkeeper with a deft placement after he picked up a ball from Budi Bahadur through a pass from the flank to make it 2-1.
Budi Bahadur who played a stellar role for his team drove the last nail into the Calangute coffin off a pass from Pankaj Gurkha in the 90th minute. Earlier, Calangute Association suffered a jolt when Naresh Diukar was ejected by referee for abusive language.
Signals jam Calangute
MARGAO,JAN 5 Corps of Signals had the best possible start in their GFA First Division League campaign with a fluent 3-1 win over Calangute Association at 3MTR ground, Navelim on Wednesday. The teams were tied 1-1 at the breather.
