Sesa FA blank Panjim Footballers, Churchill Brothers trash Guardian Angel in GPL

Ravish Narvekar

The win helped the Academy Boys to climb to the sixth position with eight points from five matches, while the Capital City side who are placed seventh have the same number of points after having played two extra matches.

Sesa Football Academy registered a hard-fought 2-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Thursday evening. Kunal Salgaonkar scored the opening goal in the 20th minute, while Clencio Pinto came off the bench at halftime and found the net in the 88th minute for the Academy Boys.

Sesa had numerous changes to their side following a solitary-goal defeat at the hands of Sporting Clube de Goa in their previous encounter as Shridharnath Gawas, Daniel Gomes, Kunal Salgaonkar, Aman Rajbhar, Velrose Dias and Aryan Salunke made the comeback for the Academy Boys. Whereas Panjim coach Savio Vaz made only three changes to his side which defeated Velsao SCC in the last match as Maresto Fernandes, Britto Pereira and Frazier Castanha made it into the cut for the Capital City side.

After a midfield play in the first 10 minutes, Sesa's Kunal made a darting run and found Aman in the box with a diagonal pass but the midfielder saw his goalbound strike superbly push for a corner by Panjim keeper Preston Rego.

After their first attack, Sesa tried to control the match and drew the first blood in the 20th minute through Kunal. Panjim defence cleared Aman's corner which rolled to Shridharnath. The midfielder cut past an opponent outside the box and made a cross to Kunal who jumped and tapped the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0 for Sesa.

At the half-hour mark, the Academy Boys should have been leading by two goals as Aman darted in the box and made a short pass to Aryan at the top whose fierce shot rebound off the crossbar. A minute later, Aman once again was in the commanding position in the box after receiving a perfect through pass from his teammate but the midfielder this time also failed to shoot past Panjim keeper Preston.

Sesa's Aryan wasted another opportunity in the 36th minute as Aman made a defence-splitting through pass to the midfielder who covered some ground but failed to keep his placement on target with a just rival keeper at his stake.

As the match progressed, the match was once again turned into a midfield affair as Sesa after wasting so many goalscoring opportunities tried to keep the ball possession. At the other end, Panjim's Jonas Colaco tried his luck from distance but couldn't keep it on target.

At halftime, Sesa coach Charles Dias brought in Clencio Pinto and Omkar Shetgaonkar replacing both his U20s Aryan and Velrose.

Panjim's Jonas who was influential in their last match against Velsao once again came with an attack just after changing the ends but this time also he chose to for glory from the distance where his shot was wide from the target. A few minutes later Doyal Alves shot on goal from the edge of the box but Sesa custodian Roanal Gaunkar made a brilliant save to deny the forward.

Down by a goal, Panjim gaffer Savio made some changes to his side as U20 Maresto and Malcolm Gonsalves made was for Shridar Naidu and Deep Pednekar at the hour mark.

Sesa substitute Clencio had the best chance to double their lead in the 67th minute when he snatched the ball from Panjim defender Akash Banavalikar but could not make the most of an easy opportunity. They had another opportunity in the 75th minute when Panjim defender Mackenzie Figueiredo made a foul on Clencio just outside the box, awarding a freekick in the dangerous area. Sesa's other substitute Omkar chose to look at the goal directly from the set-piece but Panjim keeper Preston once again rescued his side with a diving save at the cost of a corner.

At the other end, Nicklas Noronha danced past a few opponents at the deep right flank and tried to find Maximo D'Costa with a cross but Sesa defender Daniel cleared the danger before the forward could do any damage to his side. Panjim's Dhiraj Chouhan sent a long cross to find Doyal in the box but this time Sesa defender Myran Pereira followed suit of his teammate.

Sesa's Clencio finally managed to register his name in the scoresheet in the 87th minute as the forward took advantage of an error made by Panjim defender Akash and easily beat their custodian Preston with brilliant footwork before slotting the ball in the empty net to make it 2-0.

Churchill Brothers secure big win over Guardian Angel SC

Churchill Brothers FC Goa secured a trashing 6-1 win over Guardian Angel Sports Club in the GPL match played at Nagoa Panchayat Ground. Jobern Cardozo put the Varca based club ahead in the 44th minute, whereas Angles' Joywin Costa levelled it back in the added minutes of the session.

Lalkhawpuimawia (64' 65' 70' & 90+3') scored four goals in the second session, while their skipper George D'Souza also added to the tally in the 86th minute to secure all three points.