Doyal Alves score two to book three for Panjim Footballers against Velsao SCC

Ravish Narvekar

The Capital City side secured its second victory of the season.

Doyal Alves scored the brace in the dying minutes of the match as Panjim Footballers snatched a 2-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Monday evening.

Velsao, who defeated Vasco SC in the previous match, had just one change in their starting XI as Joliston Rebello was back for the South Goan side. On the other hand, Panjim coach Savio Vaz also made a few changes to his side which held FC Goa to a goalless draw in their last encounter as Alvito Dias and Shridar Naidu made the first start for the Capital City side.

Though Panjim were the dominant side in the first few minutes of the match, it were Velsao who looked at the goal first in the 5th minute. K Vinoth, who has scored in the last two matches, went for glory from outside the box but the forward failed to keep his strike on target. Vinoth had another opportunity to put his side ahead in the 15th minute when a cross by Imran Khan found the forward in the box but his weak shot from close was easily collected by Panjim custodian Preston Rego.

Panjim came with their first potent attack in the 17th minute as Jonas Colaco nicely curled in the box but Velsao skipper Ronaldo Pereira cleared the danger. The ball rolled to Doyal Alves whose goalbound strike was brilliantly blocked by a Velsao defender. The Capital City side should have taken the lead in the 19th minute when Jonas nicely dribbled past a couple of opponents and cut it back to unmarked Maximo D'Costa. However, the Panjim forward shot wide from point-blank range.

Another good opportunity went into vain for Panjim in the 27th minute as Shridar sent a perfect cross to Jonas in the goalmouth but the midfielder headed wide with a just rival keeper to beat. Panjim once again came close to opening their tally in the 34th minute as Maximo once again looked at the goal, this time from the distance where Velsao keeper Arnab Sharma made a comfortable collection to a long ranger strike from the Panjim forward.

Velsao, who were busy defending their cathedral, came with a swift attack from the right flank as Sheldon Pereira made a quick run and set up Imran at the top of the box who beat a Panjim defender before firing a shot from just outside the box. However, his powerful strike went just wide. With both sides wasting easy opportunities, Panjim and Velsao went into a breather without a goal on their side.

The first 25 minutes of the second session witnessed box-to-box fights where Velsao and Panjim made raids on each other but the defense line of both sides cancelled each other's attackers on every occasion.

Velsao's Imran almost put his side ahead in the 72nd minute when he tried his luck from distance but his scorching shot from distance missed the target narrowly with rival keeper Preston completely beaten. Imran once again came with another quick attack where he nicely jelled up with Sheldon at the top of the box. The midfielder made a short pass to Imran who saw his goalbound strike timely blocked by Panjim defender Dhiraj Chouhan.

They came with another swift raid in the 81st minute as this time Romario Da Costa's long pass set up substitute Ashley Rodrigues with a just rival keeper at his stake but Panjim's custodian Preston came with a breathtaking save to deny the Velsao lad. With just a few minutes left to the regular time, Romario made another fine through pass, this time to Imran. The Velsao forward who is in fine form in GPL, this time could not make the most of the opportunity.

At the other end, Doyal scored the opening goal for the Capital City side in the 90th minute. Jonas made an inch-perfect long pass to the forward who covered some ground to get on the ball and lobbed the ball in the net over Velsao's onrushing keeper Arnab to make it 1-0.

Doyal sealed the deal for Panjim in the added minutes of the match as Nicklas made a darting run from his half and made a diagonal pass to the forward. Doyal calmly sent the ball in the back of the nylons to grab all three points for his side.