Xetrapal down Cunchelim
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
MAPUSA, AUG 14
Xetrapal Sports Club mounted a spectacular comeback to register a 2-1 win over Cunchelim Sports Club in GFA’s 3rd Division at St Anthony’s church ground, Siolim on Saturday. Cunchelim were leading 1-0 at the lemon break.
A tactical half time substitution by Xetrapal which involved their goalkeeper Nandadeep Narvecar moving to the right wing allowed Xetrapal to be more ambitious going forward after seeing Cunchelim enjoy greater possession in the first half.
In the 16th minute, Cunchelim took the lead through Naresh Virnodkar, who received the ball on the right side and from 25 yards chipped the ball over the Xetrapal goalkeeper.
Xetrapal started to play more aggressively after the change of ends. In the 54th minute the referee showed the yellow card for the first time to Xetrapal’s Gokul Govekar. The referee was kept busy during the period that followed showing five yellow cards in all. Four were shown to Xetrapal players and one to Sohan Amonkar of Cunchelim.
Eleven minutes into the second half Vaibhav Mayekar smashed the ball into the top right hand corner bringing Xetrapal on level terms.
Cunchelim’s Meikeshan Gama saw his long range attempt deflect off the bar in the 60th.
Both teams continued to press forward but it was Xetrapal who had the last say.Ten minutes from the end a lapse in concentration in the Cunchelim defence allowed Pranay Goltekar to sneak in and steal the winner for Xetrapal.
