Goa continue unbeaten run in Santosh Trophy, down Arunachal Pradesh (Watch Highlights)

Ravish Narvekar

Trijoy Dias scored in back-to-back matches for the Goans.

Goa continued their unbeaten run in Group III of the Senior National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy 2022-23 as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Arunachal Pradesh in match played at SAI Training Centre, Kokrajhar Assam. Mohammed Faheez opened the tally for Goans in the 19th minute, while Trijoy Dias doubled the tally for his side within the next nine minutes. Taba Heli came off the bench to reduce the margin for Arunachal in the 47th minute.

Stendly Fernandes was back in the lineup for the Western Coastal side which were held to a high-scoring draw in the last match against Uttar Pradesh. While Arunachal Pradesh coach Sangey Tsering brought out numerous changes to his side which lost to Assam by a 4-1 margin as Tania Raji, Geba Loya, Tarh Dolu, Nabam Ropa and Tsering Sherpa made it into the cut for the Land of Dawn.

Arunachal had an early chance in the match when their winger Yura Tarung nicely curled the ball in the box to find his teammate Tarh but Goan defender Liston Cardozo made a timely interception in the goalmouth to keep his side safe. The Northern side continued their attacks in regular intervals and they tried to dominate over Goa but could not break Goa's defence.

Goa also made a few raids on the opponents but their best chance came in the 14th minute when Mohammed Faheez and Stendly nicely jelled up and the top of the box with one-two-one passing where Stendly set up the other forward with a just rival keeper to beat but Faheez could not make most of an easy opportunity. The Goan side appealed for the penalty kick as the rival keeper's touch brought down the Goan forward in the box but the referee ignored the situation. They once again came with a potent attack within the next two minutes as Ganesh Thakur made a through pass to Liston who tried to find Stendly in the box with a low cross but Arunachal defender Yura Tarung blocked it at the cost of a corner.

As the match progressed, Goan tried to be the dominant side with back-to-back attacks where Ganesh was influential in the midfield with brilliant footwork and potential passing. He once again came with a beautiful pass to Faheez at the top of the box who easily dribbled past two opponents but his stiff grounder was divingly saved by Arunachal keeper Jagom Loyi.

After some probing attacks, Goans finally breached the Northern side's defence as Faheez snatched the ball from rival defender Yachang Kani and easily beat their onrushing keeper Loyi with a fine touch. The forward later made no mistake to send the ball into the empty net to put his side ahead in the 19th minute. Ganesh was once again in action in the 22nd minute as this time he combined with Stendly at the edge of the box where the forward sent a through pass to the midfielder in the box but Arunachal defender Yura once again came to rescue his side with a brilliant block.

The Northern side had an opportunity to level back in the 26th minute when Tagru James sent a perfect through pass to Tapi Hakhe in the box but the forward could not connect with just Goan keeper Hansel Coelho at his stake as the custodian quickly collected the ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RffYemeeW7s

At the other end, Goans doubled their lead through Trijoy Dias. A long pass by Liston was nicely controlled by the winger and clinically finished over the onrushing rival keeper in the back of the nylons to make it 2-0 for his side. A few minutes later, Domnic Soares also tried his luck from distance but Arunachal keeper Loyi parried his goalbound strike for a corner.

Goans once again came close to extending the lead with just a few minutes left to halftime as Stendly found Faheez from the corner where the forward danced past a few opponents before unleashing a strike at the rival goal but Arunachal keeper Loyi came with a brilliant block to deny the Goan forward. The rest of the session witnessed possession play from the Goans where they managed to keep the two-goal cushion lead till halftime.

Arunachal regrouped at the break and pulled one back within 65 seconds after the resumption of play. The Goan keeper Hansel fumbled to collect a long free-kick from Loya. The substitute Taba Heli who replaced Sherpa at halftime slotted the ball into the empty net giving hope for his side to come back in the match.

Taba should have levelled back for Arunachal in the 50th minute when James fed him in the box with a cross but the unmarked lad failed to connect with just Goan keeper Hansel at his stake. Loya once again came with a fine freekick to Hakhe but the midfielder's weak header went into the waiting hands of Goan keeper Hansel.

Arunachal's Ropa was lucky to escape with a yellow card as he hit Goan midfielder Harsh Patre on the face following his tackle on the Arunacha defender. The referee booked the Goan medio for his tackle, while he surprised everyone with the same caution instead of the straight red card. The Northern side should have made it all square in the 58th minute when their Dolu snatched the ball from Goan defender Shallum Pires and was in the commanding position to make it 2-2 from inside the box but the midfielder's delayed action helped Goa's Domnic to clear the danger.

At the other end, Goan skipper Jovel Martin sent a perfect lob pass to Stendly who darted in the box but his powerful strike was excellently saved by Arunachal keeper Loyi.

Down by a goal, Arunachal coach Sangey used all the substitutions but non of the fresh legs could not make any impact on the scoresheet as the Western Coastal side secured important three points.

Highlights Video: SportsCast India