Team Herald
MAPUSA: An injury time goal by Joston Cardozo helped Sporting Clube de Goa claim the GFA’s U-18 League title with a 4-2 win over Sesa Football Academy, played at Duler Stadium, here on Saturday.
The result was heart-breaking for the young Sesa lads who held the lead until the late injury moments of the match.
Both the sides matched each others strengths and skills but it was Sesa who outsmarted their rivals to finish the first half with a one goal lead coming through Daniel Lobo.
After a spell of midfield action Sporting had the first crack at the rival goal however Stendly Fernandes having only the keeper to beat blasted the ball wide from close quarters.
Couple of minutes later Desmond Pereira’s sent in a sharp cross which beat the Sesa keeper only to see Trijoy Dias head the ball way off the target.
While Sporting attacked it was Sesa who did the all important act of scoring when Dylan Fernandes sent a long cross from the right flank to well positioned Daniel Lobo who leapt high to nod the ball home, 1-0.
Boosted by the goal Sesa stepped up the pace of the attack however they failed to convert their moves into goals.
Moments before the halftime whistle Daniel Lobo sent the ball towards Malcolm Gonsalves whose header sailed just past the Sporting goal.
Crossing over, Sporting tried their level best to get back into the match and initiated several threatening moves.
In the 65th minute Desmond Pereira curled in his corner kick inside the Sesa 6-yard box to Oswald Fernandes who shot wide. Ten minutes later Stendly Fernandes made a threatening run into the Sesa camp and sent the ball towards Joston Cardozo whose shot was kept away by the Sesa keeper.
Joston once again came attacking when he unleashed a powerful right footer from the top of the box which was pushed away by the diving Sesa keeper.
When Sesa were almost on their verge on celebrating their victory Sporting came with a dramatic equaliser in the injury minutes of the match, being scored from the penalty spot after the referee found Sesa’s Dhiraj Chouhan guilty of bringing down Princeton Rebello inside the 18-yard box. Joston Cardozo who stepped forward made no mistake in scoring, 1-1.
In the resultant penalty shootout Sporting turned out to be better shooters, scoring through Joston Cardozo, Stendly Fernandes and Princeton Rebello. Sesa keeper Roanal Gaunkar saved the penalties of Cyrus Moura and Danish Shaikh. For the Sesa lads only Anil Chawan managed to score as Cyrus Noronha, Kunal Salgaonkar and Vishnu Gosavi’s shots were saved by Sporting keeper Akshat Hadkonkar.
