the goan I network
DULER
Calangute Association Sports Club demolished Football Club de Bardez 5-0 in the Bardez derby match of the Goa Professional League, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, here on Friday.
It was Calangute’s Blake Haldankar who opened the account for the beachside team in the first session, while Nigerian defender Kouame Joseph scored the other four goals in the second half. With the big win, Calangute climbed to the 4th position with 29 points from 20 matches, while Bardez have 18 points from 20 outings.
Calangute in-charge Alex Alvares brought back Blake Haldankar in the starting XI after the team had drubbed Vasco SC by a 4-1 margin, while Bardez assistant coach Climax Lawrence also made only one change to his side which held Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in the previous round match as Danstan Fernandes was back in the line-up for the Pink Brigade.
It was an early 3rd minute scoring chance which came to the beachside team and they did not let it go. Newton Azavedo managed to snatch the ball from Bardez defender Lalbabu Matho’s feet just outside the box and squared it to a well-positioned Blake who did not waste any time and slotted the ball past Bardez keeper David Chauhan from close, 1-0.
In the entire match, the Pink Brigade had only one good chance to score and that came in the 10th minute of the match. Midfielder Inacio Colaco set up Ronil Azavedo inside the penalty box with a neat lob, but Calangute keeper Jason D’Mello left his guard and came with a brilliant block in one-to-one situation. At the other end, Calangute had a chance to double their lead in the 33rd minute when Newton came with a fine cross at the far post but U-20 forward Leslee Britto shot wide from close.
On crossing ends, Calangute dictated terms and were almost camped inside the rival territory. Ashok Megheri had two open sitters to score but, first, he headed out from close off Blake’s perfect cross from the edge of the box, while a minute later, he failed to connect from close Nigerian Kouame Joseph’s low cross. Another chance went begging for Calangute in the 65th minute when Newton tried to find his team-mate at the far post but Mayur Shelar shot wide from point-blank range.
However, in a fraction of six minutes three goals were scored by Nigerian Kouame. In the 69th minute, Kouame directed his header at the goal which hit the side post and went in, off Bersal Viegas’ cross, 2-0. Just two minutes later, the Nigerian defender who had switched his role upfront proved that he was also good in that position as he scored his second goal of the match when he dribbled past two opponents and shot past Bardez keeper David from the top of the box to make it 3-0.
It did not take long for Kouame to complete his hat-trick which came in the 74th minute, as he tapped the ball home of Newton’s low cross, 4-0. In the added-on time, Bardez defender Gaurav Vaigankar was penalised by referee Mario Pereira for bringing down Domnic Fernandes in the box. Calangute’s Kouame took the responsibility and scored past Bardez keeper David from the spot to make it 5-0.
