MARGAO
Holy Cross Sports Club, Arambol almost pulled off a spectacular victory before Curtorim Gymkhana’s Josley Costa struck the equaliser in the 70th minute for a thrilling draw in the GFA First Division League at DSYA grounds, Curtorim on Thursday. Holy Cross Sports Club, Arambol led 2-0 at the breather.
Holy Cross Sports Club coach Pradeep Chopdekar made changes choosing to start with Dalesh Pednekar upfront and Runal Shirodkar in the waist line.
At the other end, Curtorim Gymkhana’s suspension by the GFA for impersonation in age group tournament, ended last week.
Holy Cross had Curtorim Gymkhana on the ropes from the start when Dalesh Pednekar who received the ball from Runal Shirodkar saw his curling shot being kept out by Curtorim goalkeeper Joseph Monteiro in the 6th minute. Curtorim who took time to settle down and backed by the home crowd had a chance when Roque Borges picked up the ball from Wayne Rodrigues and the latter unleashed a snap shot which was blocked by rival goalkeeper. In the 12th minute, when Holy Cross striker Runal Shirodkar unleashed a left-footer it was saved on the goalline in the 15th minute.
Curtorim did not leg behind when Roque Borges’ strong header kissed the cross bar in the 16th minute.
It was Holy Cross who found themselves ahead in the 43rd minute when Jason Fernandes outwitted a couple of defenders and moved inside the rival penalty box when rival defender Savio Fernandes dangerously tackled him iniside the penalty box and referee Sharad Naik without any hesistation awarded the spot-kick.
Shashank Ashewekar made no mistake with the resultant spot-kick to send the rival goalkeeper the wrong way.
Spurred by the lead, Holy Cross upped the ante and at the stroke of lemon break.Dalesh Pednekar doubled the lead with a long range shot leaving the rival goalkeeper dazed.
Post resumption, Holy Cross slackened their pace and allowed their opponents to manoeuvere inside their terriotry.
Curtorim took the advantage of the rival’s leisure pace and reduced the deficit in the 60th minute when Roque Borges punted the ball to the far corner of the net off a well-measured pass from Neville Fernandes. In a stunning turn around, Curtorim scored the equalizer with substitute Josley Costa puting his team on equal terms in the 70th minute.
Stunned by the equaliser,Holy Cross went all out in serarch of the match-winner and were unlucky when Runal Shirodkar and Dalesh Pednekar’s tries hit the cross bar late in the second half. Roque Baretto came close to striking the match-winner but his shot kissed the cross bar for Curtorim Gymkhana in the dying minutes.
In another match, Salgaocar Colts and Sesa Football Academy played out a goalless draw at Government Village School playgrounds,
Ambelim. In another match played, Penha de Franca beat Vagator Parish YSC 2-1. It was Vagator who took the lead off Nitesh Salgaocar in the 8th minute. Their lead remained intact only for the first half as Anil Gaonkar ensured his brace (45+2& 55th) was enough for Penha de Franca to troop out victors. It was the second win for Penha de Franca, while Vagator suffered their first defeat.
