Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Unbeaten Sporting Clube de Goa and Geno Football Club played a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Thursday.
After this drawn encounter, Sporting Clube have six points from four matches, while Geno FC have five points from three matches.
In a lacklustre first session, play was mostly restricted to midfield with both the goalkeepers have a field day.
Sporting Clube coach Franscisco Anthony Vaz played the same starting XI which drew with Dempo Sports Club, at the other end Geno FC coach Francisco Da Costa brought two changes in his starting XI which won their last match against Goa Police.
In the first session, Geno FC did come close in breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute when Sarino Fernandes’ shot from inside the 18-yard box was blocked for a corner by Sporting Clube’s defender Edwin Viegas.
Six minutes later, Geno FC’s U-21 Nakul Gawas floated the ball to over lapping Sarino who saw his lob over the onrushing Sporting Clube goalkeeper Abhimanyu Singh travel over the horizontal bar.
On resumption of play, both the coaches brought couple of changes in their squad.
In the last quarter of the match, Sporting Clube had at least five scoring chances but Nganbam Singh fumbled in front of the goal, while skipper Kunal Kundaikar saw his left footer travel just past the far post.
As the match progressed, Sporting Clube’s Niraj Parekh hit the side netting while substitute Doyal Alves saw his diving header from inside the 6-yard box travel out.
In the closing stages once again this time Sporting Clube’s Samuel Costa controlled Doyal Alves pass but shot out to the dismay of his teammates and supporters.
Geno FC Liston Cardozo received the player-of-the-match award from Goa Football Association Executive Member Allan D’Cruz.
