MAPUSA: Ten-man Sesa Football Academy played a 1-1 draw with Vasco Sports Club in Goa Football Association’s Goa Professional League, round two football match, at Duler Stadium, here, Thursday.
The goals came in the first half. Jerose Oliveira put Vasco ahead in the 18th minute but Sesa equalized in the very next minute through Alber Gonsalves.
The teams settled for a point and opened their account in the standings with a point each. They kept the crowd entertained throughout the match, providing end-to-end action.
The academy boys started brightly with strikers Alber and Yogesh Kadam coming close to scoring but their rasping grounders went inches wide in the first 10 minutes.
Soon, Sesa medio Rayman Fernandes intelligently set up Yogesh through on goal. The striker rounded of the rival custodian but skidded at the final moment due to wet ground conditions on the artificial surface.
Everyone expected Sesa to take the lead but instead, it was Vasco who went ahead in the 18th minute.
Vasco’s Don Bosco did well to intercept between Sesa keeper Thockchom Singh and his defence and toed the ball goal wards only to see his attempt hit the crossbar.
However, the ball fell back in play to Jerose, who rushed on time to slot in the empty goal, 1-0.
Vasco hardly finished celebrating as Sesa turned in the equalizer in the very next minute after Alber headed in off a perfect cross by Grammy Costa from the right flank.
Post resumption, Sesa had a good opportunity to take the lead when Perryson Rebello’s dangerous low cross fell inside the danger zone but onrushing Girish Naik couldn’t provide the desired finishing.
Sesa enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession and created numerous chances but their forwards lacked finishing.
With 10 minutes to go for the final whistle, Sesa were reduced to 10-man after Caitano Viegas received a direct red card from referee Maria Rebello after the Sesa player got into a tussle with Jerose, and in the process punched the latter on his face.
