TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Sporting Clube de Goa and 10-man Salgaocar Football Club settled for a point each as they played out a goalless draw in GFA’s U-20 Taca Goa First Division football league match at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Thursday.
Salgaocar came into the game riding on the back of two straight victories, while Sporting Goa were playing their first match and were determined to put on a good show.
Sporting Goa’s danger man was undoubtedly Mauvin Borges, but he spent a lot of time on the ground due to some dangerous tackling from the opposition.
Mauvin was supported well by the likes of Gautham Dias, Aniket Mandraker, Akeraj Martins and Lesten Martins who moved the ball about well.
Salgaocar’s target man was Albino Pereira, who kept the Flaming Oranje on their toes, coming close to scoring on a number of occasions.
The game started at breathtaking speed, with the teams looking to surge ahead early. Both teams had chances to score, but neither could break the dead lock. A combination of strong defending and acrobatic goalkeeping played their part in neutralizing the attacks.
Sporting Goa had the chance to gain victory in the 72nd minute, when the enterprising Mauvin Borges was wrestled to the floor in the penalty area. From the resulting penalty, substitute Chatur Naik failed to hit the target.
Salgaocar were reduced to ten men in the 81st minute after Stefen Fernandes received a red card for a second bookable offence, after a clear cut foul on Sporting Goa’s Mauvin Borges.
After this result, Salgaocar move to 7 points from three matches while Sporting Goa has 1 point from their opening encounter.
