MAPUSA: St. Anthony SC, Marna maintained their unbeaten run with a hard fought 2-1 win over Assonora United in the GFA’s 2nd Division league, at Duler stadium, here, on Tuesday.
Assonora led 1-0 at half-time but St Anthony SC, Marna showed great resilience in the second half to score two goals and return home with all three points.
Assonora started the proceedings brightly and should have opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Stepelton Fernandes defence splitting pass found Dikshay Sarop who surprisingly shot wide from a handshaking distance.
It did not take long for Assonora to take the lead which came in the 15th minute when Dikshay’s corner kick was well met by Stepelton whose fierce header crashed into the net.
Minutes into the match, Assonora could have consolidated their lead when Stepelton released Dikshay who busted down the right flank and on entering the penalty box unselfishly passed the ball to a well-positioned Atieh Gaonkar who shot tamely into the keeper’s hands.
Crossing ends, St Anthony’s who were a pale shadow in the first half seemed a transformed side in the second session as they levelled terms in the very first minute through Sangam Pednekar whose well connected half volley from a pass by Videsh Sawant zoomed past the keeper into the net to make it 1-1.
Bouyed by the success, St. Anthony’s kept applying pressure and got the second goal which turned out to be the match-winner in the 58th minute. Claudio Rodrigues’ long ball was well controlled by Vipul Pednekar whose inch perfect cross in the box found Mayuresh who headed the ball into goal 2-1 to the joyous celebration of their supporters and dugout.
St. Anthony’s keeper Vinit Agarwadekar came up with a brilliant save to stop Assonora’s Siddesh Pednekar cracking long range from finding the back of the net.
Mayuresh almost got his brace in the 85th minute but his power-packed right footed shot hit the Assonora’s top post and went out.
