MARGAO
Goa secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Sub Junior Boys’ National Football Championship Tier 1 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Bengal at the KSFA Stadium in Bangalore on Wednesday.
From the outset, Goa displayed their intent with relentless pressure. Within the first ten minutes, they created two clear one-on-one chances but were unable to convert. Their dominance was evident as they launched a series of attacks, yet the elusive opening goal remained just out of reach.
The second half brought a dramatic shift in momentum. The game came alive when Aryan Lingudkar scored a stunning free kick from just outside the penalty box, eluding the Bengal goalkeeper in the 64th minute. This goal boosted the morale of the Goa players, who continued to press forward. In the 76th minute, Elasan D'Souza increased the tally with a well-placed snapshot, and in the 84th minute, Joseph D'Costa skillfully hooked in a rebound to seal the victory.
Goa advanced to the semi-finals with their 3-0 win over Bengal. Although both Goa and Maharashtra finished on six points, Goa progressed due to a superior goal difference.
They will face Manipur in the semi-finals on September 21.
Goa coach Covan Lawrence expressed his satisfaction with the victory, emphasizing that it was well-deserved against a strong opponent. “I am happy with the result. We played an excellent match against a good team. We managed to show our character in the second half, which is essential,” Lawrence stated. He added, “We utilized all our players, and everyone performed excellently. However, we must maintain this level of performance throughout the match.”
