TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
MAPUSA: Young Boys of Tonca (YBT) pocketed their first point of their campaign as they rallied to hold Corps of Signals to a 1-1 draw in an 8th Round First Division League football match, here, Friday. Signals led 1-0 at half time.
Signals started in the second position in the standings with 15 points and faced a bottom placed YBT side, who were yet to register a point after suffering seven consecutive defeats.
Signals started on an attacking note as it took them nine minutes to surge ahead after YBT’s Paulwin D’Silva netted an own goal in an attempt to clear a dangerous cross from Signal’s Nim Tshering from the left flank.
Signals did not allow their rivals to settle down and could have doubled their lead in the 15th minute after Signal’s VL Naghaka set up Kuldeep Rana inside the box but the latter’s powerful close ranger went wide with only rival goalkeeper Parsappa Harijan at his mercy.
At the other end, YBT missed the services of striker Terence Lobo, who was ruled out due to suspension and they struggled to get back into the game as their forwards could not pose any serious threat. Their problems got worse in the 17th minute when goalkeeper Parsappa had to be substituted with Parvaraj Joshi due to an injury.
YBT tried hard to score the equalizer and their best chance came in the 33rd minute but striker Columban Noronha headed inches over from close range off a well-measured cross from Queterio Pango.
Then, five minutes later, YBT’s Dhilon Fernanddes thought he had equalized after he chipped over onrushing Signal’s goalkeeper Niyas Mon but the goal was disallowed as the assistant referee pulled up Dhilon for off-side.
Just before the lemon break, Signal captain Kunal Sarkar was cautioned by referee Nilesh Vaigankar for his dangerous tackle on YBT’s Dhilon.
In the second session, YBT got a life-line when they were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute after Dhilon was brought down by Kuldeep inside the box. Queterio stepped up and converted the spot-kick with a stiff grounder to make it 1-1.
YBT’s sprung to life with the equalizer and tried hard to score their second but Columban squandered a golden opportunity in the 74th minute after he failed to connect a clever through ball from Dhilon.
Signal’s went all-out in the final quarter in search of the match-winner but YBT defenders Hepociano Gomes, Johnson D’Souza, Queterio and Paulwin did a fine job in their department to restrain the rival attacks.
After the game, the irate Signals team, who felt that they were the victims of poor refereeing, confronted the match officials and the referee had to red card Kuldeep Kumar in the process.
Surprisingly, there were no security personnel or any GFA members to take stock of the situation.
If not for stadium manger Colin Fernandes, Jude Fernandes and other spectators who came to the rescue of the officials, the situation could have got out of hands. This is not the first time that the GFA did not provide adequate security to the supervising officials which is vital.
