MARGAO
A dramatic late free-kick from Clencio Pinto salvaged a point for Sesa FA as they drew 2-2 with Maharashtra Oranje FC in the I-League 3 opener on Tuesday.
The match echoed MH Oranje FC's opening game from the previous season, where they also drew 2-2. Early on, Sesa FA created several chances but failed to capitalize. The breakthrough came when Beckham's run down the left led to Savlon’s powerful left-footed shot into the bottom corner, beating Oranje's goalkeeper Mukund.
Oranje fought back, displaying their signature fluid passing but struggled to finish in the final third. However, their persistence paid off just before halftime when Danish Shetty’s accurate cross allowed Saurabh Sharma to head in the equalizer.
The second half saw Oranje come out with renewed energy. Substitutes Pratham Ghatnur and Khatib made an impact, and in the 61st minute, Nitesh Monde’s pass found Ghatnur, who scored with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box, giving Oranje a 2-1 lead.
As rain turned the pitch into a quagmire, both teams adapted to the conditions. Oranje seemed set for a win until the 90th minute when Clencio Pinto's expertly taken free-kick arced into the top right corner, out of Mukund’s reach, securing a 2-2 draw for Sesa FA.
The late equaliser deprived MH Oranje of a victory but showcased the competitive spirit of the match.Sesa Football Academy head coach Charles Dias has called for his players to improve their performance, describing their journey in the I-League 3 as a "long and difficult path."
Dias attributed the lost points to missed opportunities. "We deserved better against Maharashtra Oranje," Dias said. "We created many chances in the first half but couldn’t convert them. In the second half, the team was excellent and gave their best, but luck was not on our side in front of goal."
He added, "This is football. Given the opportunities we had, we should have won. We need to develop further and focus more in our upcoming matches, as we have a challenging road ahead in the League."
Maharashtra Oranje coach Taposh Ghosh also expressed his disappointment with the result. "I’m saddened by the outcome. We were aiming for a win to keep our chances of advancing alive," he said.
Despite the draw, Dias praised his players' efforts: "I am satisfied with their performance today. We played with great fighting spirit and created several clear opportunities. Although we were the more dangerous side, we failed to score, but that’s football."
