MARGAO
A fine brace by Yogesh Kadam helped Calangute Association to register an easy 3-1 win over Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in the GFA Pro League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Thursday. Calangute Association led 2-1 at the breather.
Both the teams started the game on a cautious note during the first quarter of the match, with both the goalkeepers being hardly tested. Calangute Association broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when a combined move between Pedro Gonsalves and Ygoesh Kadam saw the last named beat the Cavelossim goalkeeper with a nice placement.
However their joy was short-lived as midfielder Suraj Hadonkar converted from the spot after Calangute Assocaition player Kouame M Bra Joaeph Yaho handled the ball inside the penalty box and referee Mario Pereira awarded a penalty, 1-1.
The equalizer boosted the morale of Cavelossim players as they mounted more pressure on the rival goal and they came close when winger Joshuah Vaz's left-footed drive had an attempt at gaol but it was dealt well by Calangute Association goalkeeper Melroy Fernandes. Later, Suraj Hadonkar's well executed freekick was also blocked by the Calangute Association goalkeeper.
After a brief lull, Calangute Association tried their best to come back into the game and in the 44th minute they were rewarded when their foreign recruit Salim Mohammed outwitted a host of defenders and his right-footer deflected from the leg of rival central defender Cresson Antao and the ball travel to Yogesh Kadam, who slotted past the rival goalkeeper Agnelo Gomes with a snap shot.
Crossing over, Calangute Assocaition looked compact in defence and nearly increased the lead soon after the resumption when Sunny Fernandes made a darting run inside the rival penalty box and sent a fine diagonal pass to Pedro Gonsalves but the latter's shot hit the far post.
The Cavelossim side's chances were few and far between and Calangute Association sealed their rivals' fate in the 50th minute when Yogesh Kadam, free from his markers, found Runali Shirodkar who didn't have any trouble in driving home his team's third goal.
In the dying minutes of the game, both the teams had a couple of scoring chances. First, Cavelossim's Suraj Hadonkar's rasping shot was fisted away by Calangute Association goalkeeper and at the other end, Newton Azavedo's shot hit rival defender Joaquim Carvalho leg. Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim nearly reduced the deficit but rival defender Melvin Lobo denied Mathew Colaco a sure goal off a pass from Daulat Dessai.
With this win, Calangute Association have collected 15 points from nine matches, while Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim stay at 14 points from 11 matches.
Salgaocar face Vasco
Salgaocar FC will face Vasco Sports Club in the GFA Pro League match at Duler ground, Mapusa on Friday. Salgaocar are in the fourth position with 15 points from eight matches, while Vasco are in the eighth place with nine points from eight outings. Salgaocar got the better of SCC Cavelossim in their last match with a 2-1 win as their new Ivory Coast striker Bayi Kamo Stephane scored on his debut and also provided an assist for Liston Colaco. Vasco SC let a two-goal lead slip away and lost to Churchill Bros 3-2 in their last match.
