PANAJI
Sesa FA scored a thrilling 3-2 win over Youth Club of Manora in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.
All five goals were scored in the first half. Sameer Kashyap gave Sesa FA an early 6th-minute lead before Manora scored twice through Sweden Barbosa (20’) and Eldon Colaco (22’). However, Sesa were determined not to give up and netted twice before the half-time through Suraj (35’) and Rizbon Fernandes (37’) which sealed the three points for the academy team.
Sesa FA started on an attacking note with Myron Borges creating constant opportunities in the early minutes. He first set up Domnic Soares but the skipper’s effort hit the woodwork from inside the box and went out of play. But the academy side soon took the lead in the sixth minute and it was Myron who provided an assist when he sent Sameer Kashyap through in the area and he fired a low grounder at the far post to put his side ahead.
Manora took time to settle in the game and levelled the scores in the 20th minute when Eldon Colaco, on getting the ball in the box, set up Sweden Barbosa, who kept his composure and scored with a firm shot past Sesa custodian Roanal Gaunkar.
In the 22nd minute, Manora doubled the lead with a brilliant team goal which saw them build on a counter. Arvind Silva dispossessed a Sesa FA striker and played to Aniston Fernandes. The former Churchill Bros player threaded a defence-splitting pass to Jason Barbosa, who was quick to send the ball to Eldon Colaco, who got on his stronger right foot and slammed the ball past the Sesa FA custodian.
Minutes later, Eldon missed a glorious chance to inflate the lead when he was set on goal once again by Jason Barbosa, but the former’s effort saw an equal answer from Roanal Gaunkar, who stopped with a strong right hand. In the 34th minute, Sesa FA were awarded a penalty when Micheal Silva brought down Myron in the box. Suraj stepped over and coolly converted from the spot.
Back into the game, Sesa FA regained their lead in the 37th minute. Shajam sent a low cross in the box where Rizbon Fernandes missed time his shot but luckily the ball lobbed over the keeper and entered the goal.
In the second half, Manora had a couple of runs in the box. Aniston got past a couple of Sesa FA defenders with ease and shot at goal but Roanal Guankar pulled off a point-blank save to deny the Manora from getting the equaliser.
Manora kept searching for the goal and nearly found the back of the net twice. First Jeh Williamson saw his cross which got deflected off Sesa FA defender Suraj, which was saved by the keeper and then Eldon Colaco’s cross took a strong deflection of a Sesa FA defender which came off the post.
At the other end, Sesa FA nearly sealed the game in the 82nd minute when Myron set Stephen Colaco on the right flank, whose powerful shot was fisted away for a corner by Manora keeper. Manora custodian Alison Soares made a fine save to deny Kunal Salgaonkar from scoring their fourth in the stoppage time. The keeper got enough hand to the ball which hit the crossbar and went out for a corner.
