Sesa FA, FC Goa share the spoils in GPL encounter

Photo: Anthony Fernandes

Ravish Narvekar

Sesa FA skipper Domnic Soares was judged the Man of the match.

Sesa Football Academy and FC Goa played out a goalless draw in the second-round match of the Goa Professional League 2022-23 played at Duler Stadium on Thursday evening. With today’s result, Both teams have four points from two matches.

Both sides had won their first-round matches as the Academy Boys had defeated Salgaocar FC by a 2-0 margin, while the Junior Gaurs routed Sporting Clube de Goa in their last match. FCG coach Deggie Cardozo made two changes to their side as Mevan Dias and Aditya Salgaonkar found their names in the starting XI. Sesa, on the other hand, had just one change where Aman Rajbhar made way for Omkar Shetgaonkar in the playing XI for the Academy Boys.

Phrangki Buam who had scored the winner for his side in the last match had a chance to take FC Goa into the lead in the very 3rd minute. Jovial Dias sent a through pass to Mallikjan Kalegar on the right flank who made a low cross to the forward in the goalmouth but the Sesa keeper Roanal Gaunkar made a brilliant save at the cost of a corner.

The ISL development side continued their attacks and came close to scoring on a few more occasions but the Sesa defence line led by Daniel Gomes and Myran Pereira along with Sandeep S and Akash Kudnekar stood tall to deny Mevan and Phrangki.

At the other end, Sesa came with a first attack in the 16th minute when Kunal Salgaonkar found Velrose Dias with a short pass but the U20 forward failed to keep his strike on target from the top of the box.

Sesa once again came close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a freekick just outside the box but Myran could not pass FCG’s marked wall from the set-piece.

Another opportunity went begging for the Academy Boys in the 35th minute as Akash sent a long cross to Omkar in the box but the lad’s header missed the target by distance.

They won another set-piece at the edge of the box where Myran went for the glory but FCG keeper Hrithik Tiwari made a brilliant collection to the forward’s goalbound strike.

Sesa Coach Charles Dias brought in Clencio Pinto who scored a brace in the last match to earn full points for their side, while Mahammed Faheez replaced Velrose at halftime. The inclusion of the duo brought some pace to the Sesa’s final third as they made several attacks on the rivals from the start of the second session.

They came close to breaking the deadlock in the 57th minute when Faheez sent a nice curler to find his teammate Janak Kudmal in the box but FCG keeper Hrithik came off his line to collect the ball before the midfielder could do any damage to his side. Clencio also had a chance to put his side ahead in the 65th minute when he dribbled past a few opponents to enter the box and tried his luck but his fierce shot went just over the rivals’ frame.

A very next minute saw Junior Gaurs almost taking the lead when their midfielder Lalremruata HP danced past Sesa’s defence line and made a cutback to unmarked Phrangki in the 6-yard box. The forward pulled the trigger at the rivals' goal with a sparkling shot but Sesa custodian Roanal made a diving save to keep his side safe.

In the final minutes of the match, both the teams tried hard to find the net but the last line of FCG and SFA stood tall to clear every danger coming to their side as the match ended in a goalless draw.