Sesa FA put more misery on Vasco SC, inflict the fifth defeat in GPL

Ravish Narvekar

The Academy Boys secured their third win of the season.

Vasco Sports Club suffered another defeat as they went down to Sesa Football Academy by a 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Friday evening.

After a drab first half, Sesa surged ahead in the 47th minute through a goal by U20 Velroy Cardozo, while substitute Omkar Shetgaonkar doubled their lead in the 77th minute. Altamash Sayed scored the consolation goal for Vasco in the added minutes of the match.

Sesa coach Charles Dias made numerous changes to his side following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Calangute Association in the last match as Mohammed Faheez, Rohan Kamble, Akash Kudnekar, Beckham Singh and Velroy Cardozo made it into the cut for the Academy Boys. Vasco, on the other hand, had only one change to their side which went down to Salgaocar FC in their previous match as experienced keeper Luis Barreto made the first start of the season for the Port Towners.

Though Vasco started the match on an attacking note, it were Sesa who first came close to scoring in the 9th minute as a fine through pass by their skipper Domnic Soares was collected by Velroy and the U20 winger set up Aryan Salunke in front of the rival frame but the U20 forward shoot over the crossbar with just rival keeper Luis at his stake. Five minutes more and the Academy Boys were once again in the scoring situation as this Akash made a beautiful pass to unmarked Faheez in the box but Vasco keeper Luis left his line to clear the danger on time.

Vasco should have taken the lead in the 16th minute when Cavin Lobo sent a long freekick in the box to Felix Chidi but the Nigerian forward could not connect his header from close as Sesa keeper Roanal Gaunkar made a comfortable collection. They made another swift attack within the next two minutes but this time Cavin's long-ranger was completely off-target. The Nigerian forward Felix had another opportunity to make up for his last miss as he was fed in the goalmouth by Ganesh Thakur's lob cross but the striker's header missed the side post by a whisker.

The second quarter of the match witnessed, both sides pressing each other in search of the opening goal. However, the last line of both the teams kept every danger at the bay as the match was locked in a goalless draw at halftime.

Both the coaches made a change each at the breather as Vasco's U20 Jesvan Fernandes made way for Suman Lepcha, while Clenci Pinto replaced Sesa U20 forward Aryan.

The change made a quick impact on the Academy Boys as they broke the deadlock within two minutes of the resumption. Beckham made a short pass to Clencio who tried to find his teammate with a diagonal pass in the box where Vasco's defenders failed to clear a dangerous pass. U20 Velroy who was completed unmarked by Vasco's last line made no mistake to slot the ball in the net to make it 1-0.

The Port Towners came close to equalising in the 58th minute with a beautiful move between Cavin and Felix where the midfielder sent a back-heel pass to the forward to set him up in the box. The Nigerian forward easily cut his way past a few opponents and tried to find Savlon Fernandes infront of the frame but his low cross was brilliantly cleared by Sesa defender Daniel Gomes. They had another chance in the 67th minute as just-in Ashley Fernandes Made an inch-perfect cross to Savlon in the box but the lad could not make the most. Another opportunity went into vain for the Port Towners within the next three minutes as Sesa defender Daniel failed to clear a long clearance where Cavin darted in the box and found unmarked Ashley in the box but the substitute midfielder's shot was brilliantly saved by Sesa keeper Roanal.

At the other end, Sesa extended their lead in the 77th minute as a miscommunication between Vasco defender Khrawkupar Tamu and keeper Luis saw a loose ball in the box with an empty net which was easily slotted in by substitute Omkar Shetgaonkar to make it 2-0 for the Academy Boys. Sesa almost sealed the game in the 87th minute when Faheez danced his way past Vasco's defenders and went for glory from inside the box only to see in the brilliant block by Vasco custodian Luis.

Sesa keeper was also tested in the very next minute as Ganesh tried his luck from just outside the box but his fierce strike was divingly pushed away by keeper Roanal. Vasco showed more urgency in the dying minutes of the match and finally succeeded in the added minutes as Sesa's defence could not clear Cavin's well-taken corner where Altamash Sayed's powerful volley found the back of the net to make it 2-1.