the goan I network
MARGAO
Cuncolim Union’s goal of making it to the top-four suffered a jolt when they played out a 1-1 draw against United Club of Telaulim in the Geno GFA First Division League at Rosary ground, Navelim on Friday. Both goals were scored in the first half.
United Club of Telaulim were the busier of the teams early on as they were firing from all angles but their efforts were mostly flying off target. At the other end, Cuncolim Union appeared cautious in the initial period of the game but slowly showed more urgency and managed to find a breakthough when midfielder Sangam Gaonkar slotted past the rival goalkeeper Vernon Monteiro with a snap shot in the fifth minute.
Stung by the setback, United Club of Telaulim tried to get back into the game and adopted a more direct approach, firing long balls inside the rival territory to striker Joel Dias and Abhay Shetty. United Club of Telaulim cancelled the lead in the 15th minute when midfielder Mabel Miranda’s well executed free kick beat the Cuncolim Union goalkeeper Oswin Rodrigues. The free kick was awarded after midfielder Donaldo Rocha was fouled by a rival defender.
The equaliser boosted the morale of United Club of Telaulim players as they mounted tremendous pressure on the rival goal and had a chance to regain the lead but striker Joel Dias shot wide in a one-to-one situation.
Post resumption, both the teams turned livelier as both adopted an aggressive approach and United Club of Telaulim had a chance to make it 2-1 soon after resumption when striker Joel Dias’ rasping shot was well collected by Cuncolim Union goalkeeper with great difficulty. At the other end, Cuncolim Union -- who needed the win to keep the hopes alive for the qualifying for the top four -- went forward with defender Alliston D’Souza who drew a save from United Club of Telaulim goalkeeper. Meanwhile, United Club of Telaulim saw some slick interchanges of passes as Joel Dias tried to beat Cuncolim Union goalkeeper at the far corner but missed the target by a whisker.
Joel Dias almost steered his shot into the net only to be denied by a last-ditch clearance by a rival defender in the 58th minute, off Donaldo Rocha’s well measured pass. Cuncolim Union then spurned the easiest of chances to wrap up the match when striker Imamsab Guledgudda failed to beat the rival goalkeeper in a one-to-one situation, off a flag kick floated in by Sangam Gaonkar.
With time running out, United Club of Telaulim went all out in search of a match winner and nearly scored but Joel Dias failed to beat the rival goalkeeper. With the draw, Cuncolim Union took their tally to 21points from 11 matches and will face another daunting task when they clash with Salgaocar FC and Dempo Juniors in a couple of days. United Club of Telaulim are on 17 points from 12 matches.
