Goa share the spoils with Uttar Pradesh in high-scoring draw

Ravish Narvekar

The Western Coastal side remained unbeaten, while the Heartland state secured their first win in the National Championship 2022-23.

Goa came from two-goal down to hold Uttar Pradesh to a 2-2 draw in the 76th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at KDSA ground, Kokrajhar.

Stendly Frnandes, the winner scorer against Assam in the last match was benched following an injury for the Western Coastal side. Though with almost similar squad, Goa suffered a huge blow early on in the match as Uttar Pradesh took the lead in the 18th minute through Sanjog Yadav.

Goa kept trying to get the equalizer and then had to deal with another blow as Yashraj Thapa doubled the score for UP in the 39th minute. The Heartland state of India went into the breather with two -goal cushion.

In the second half, with a mountain to climb, coach Norberto Gonsalves didn’t waste much time to change the tactics. He introduced Mohammed Faheez and Domnic Roy Soares replacing Kirtikesh Gadekar and Lloyd Cardozo. The changes did change the game as Goa managed to pull a goal back through Trijoy Dias in the 49th minute.

Goa were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute after a UP player committed a foul in the danger zone. Skipper Jovel Martins stepped forward and calmly converted the spot kick to make it all square for the Western Coastal side.

Goa can out all-attacking in the dying minutes of the match but UP defence line stood tall to keep every dangeyat the bay as both the sides shared the spoils.