Velsao make FC Goa sweat for a point

Ravish Narvekar

The South Goan side recorded a point after two back-to-back defeats.

FC Goa came from a goal down to hold Velsao Sports and Cultural Club to a 1-1 draw in the Goa Professional League 2022-23 match played at Duler Stadium on Monday evening.

K Vinoth put Velsao ahead in the 21st minute as the South Goan club were leading by a goal at halftime. However, an own goal by Velsoa skipper Ronaldo Pereira in the 52nd minute helped the Junior Gaurs to come out with a point from the match.

The hard earned point helped the Junior Gaurs climb to the top of table with 8 points from four matches, while remained on the fifth place with four points from five outings.

Velsao coach Eban Mesquita made no changes to his side which lost to Calangute Association in the previous match, while FCG gaffer Deggie Cardozo made only one change to his side which defeated Guardian Angel SC in the last match as Mevan Dias was back in the starting XI for the Junior Gaurs.

FC Goa came with a swift attack in the early minutes of the match as Jovial Dias cut past two opponents and went for the glory from the edge of the box but the U20 forward couldn't keep his powerful shot on target. A few minutes later, Muhammed Nemil set up Jovial with a fine through pass from the midway but once again the U20 forward shot over the crossbar.

At the other end, Velsao stunned the Junior Gaurs in the 21st minute as their forward K Vinoth intercepted FCG defender Deeshank Kunkalikar's back pass and calmly beat onrushing keeper Hrithik Tiwari to put the ball in the net making it 1-0 for the South Goan club.

The Junior Gaurs once again came close to scoring, this time from Deeshank's corner as the FCG defender perfectly fed Rayan Menezes in the box but the lad's header sailed over the rival's frame.

Velsao also had an opportunity to double their lead just before the halftime whistle when Imran Khan made a short pass to Climax Fernandes at the top of the box but the U20 midfielder saw his stiff grounder miss the target narrowly.

Down by a goal, FC Goa coach Deggie brought in another forward Vasim Inmadar to bring some pace to their attacks at halftime.

They came close to equalising the 47th minute when Nemil nicely curled the ball in the box to find Mevan at the far end but the U20 lad could not reach to ball. The ball travelled to Jovial who was unmarked in the box but the forward also followed the suit.

The Junior Gaurs finally managed to level back from the own goal by Ronaldo Pereira in the 52nd minute. The Velsao skipper, in the process of clearing Nemil's low cross, put the ball in his own goal to make it 1-1 for FCG.

Coach Deggie made two more changes in the 70th minute as Malsawmtluanga and Mevan made way for Delton Colaco and U20 midfielder Rayan Menezes.

Rayan, just after coming in made a swift run in the box and found Aditya Salgaonkar but the FCG defender delayed pulling the trigger as Junior Gaurs once again squandered an easy opportunity to surge ahead.

A few minutes later, another substitute Vasim tried his luck from distance but Velsao keeper Arnab Sharma blocked his goalbound strike. Vasim had another opportunity to put his side ahead in the 80th minute when Jovial found him with a perfect cross from the deep right flank but this time the lad failed to keep his header on frame.

Deeshank whose mistake in the defence cost FCG a goal, had a chance to make up for his error in the first session in the 81st minute as Lalremruata HP sent a pass to Nemil who made a fake and released the ball to FCG defender in the box. However, Deeshank shot wide from close with a just rival keeper at the stake.

Velsao's keeper once again rescued his side in the 85th minute as a fierce shot from the top of the box by Rayan was nicely fisted over the crossbar by Arnab.

The Junior Gaurs had two more opportunities to grab all three points in the added minutes of the match but first Nemil shot wide from a freekick just outside the box. A minute later, Aditya was in the commanding position in front of the goal to seal a win for his side but Velsao defender Wangkhem Singh came with a timely clearance to assure a point for the South Goan side.

Nemil once again won the Man of the Match award following his brilliance performance.