Team Herald
PANJIM: After just two seasons, Youth Club of Manora got relegated after suffering 0-2 defeat against Guardian Angel Sports Club in the Goa Pro League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
For the last two seasons, the Goa Professional League didn’t have relegation since the association couldn’t host the first division league. However this time, GFA had made it clear that they would be having relegation and hence had conducted the relegation league for the bottom half of the table.
The GFA Goa Professional League competition committee rules book rule 13 stated, “Team standing first at the end of the Super league shall be declared as Champions of the Goa Football League 2021-2022 and the team standing last in the relegation league shall be demoted to GFA First Division season 2022-23,”
The GFA Executive Committee members confirmed that this time there would be relegation and they can’t continue accommodating teams in the top tier league. “Definitely Youth Club of Manora are relegated and demoted to first division league and there is no doubt about it. GFA can’t keep allowing relegated teams in the competition. It’s unjust against the others,” stated a senior member from South.
Another member from the north stated that, “If we continue to keep teams which get relegated than there are more chances of match manipulations. We will ensure that the team is demoted,” stated a senior member from North.
Goals from Rahul Rodrigues (75) and Gilbert Oliveira (84) secured Guardian Angel ensure full points and a comfortable win.
Manora’s Sweden Barbosa had a chance to score when he got a back pass from Fulganco Cardozo, but the youngster failed to score.
With majority of first half being restricted to midfield battle, the second half saw end to end battle. And during this time, coming from one move in the 75th minute, Gilbert Oliveira played a long pass to Rahul, who showed his composure in front of the goal to coolly put his side ahead in the game.
In the final 10 minutes, Guardian Angel SC were awarded a penalty when their player was brought down in the area forcing the referee point towards the spot. Gilbert stepped up and scored to ensure Guardian Angel full points in the competition.
Earlier in the first leg, Manora had beaten Guardian Angel. However, the Curchorem side had lodged a protest against Manora for substituting four senior players in the game which were against the competition rules. The State association upheld the decision and gave three points and three goals in favour of Guardian Angel SC.
