the goan I network
MARGAO
FC Goa’s campaign in the Hero Elite Youth League came to an end today at the Nagoa Panchayat ground here as the young Gaurs went down fighting 1-0 to Minerva Punjab in the first semi-finals. The team from Punjab will now face FC Pune City in the final of the tournament after the young Stallions overcame Aizawl FC in the second semi-final.
Despite the FC Goa’s inroads into Minerva’s final third time and again, Makan Winkle Chothe’s goal early on in the game proved to be enough for the side from North India to progress to the final.
The Gaurs begun the game on the front foot and looked threatening every time that they went forward. They, however, got caught on a swift counter-attack in the 14th minute. A well-executed move by the Minerva boys ended with Chote slotting his shot past goalkeeper Manav Baraskar.
Doyal Alves on left and Joybery Almeida up front looked threatening for the Gaurs on multiple occasions but could not muster a clear-cut opportunity in the first half.
Goa carried the momentum into the second half but could not create a gilt-edged opportunity but lacked the final ball. Things got interesting with the introduction of Asfin Pinto. The winger’s directness on the left hand side caused a lot of problems for the Minerva defence in the latter parts of the game.
The introduction of Denzil Kharshandi gave Minerva a real presence up front, but the best chance of the half fell to Goa. It was again Asfin Pinto on the left, who managed to eke out space before delivering a ball for Joybert Almeida at the far post. The forward got up well but could not direct the header towards goal.
The 87th minute of the game saw Goa get close to scoring again, this time via Precio D-Souza. The midfielder’s volley following a weak Minerva clearance looked bound for the top corner of the net only to eventually sail a few inches wide from the target.
The Minerva defence stood strong in the last few minutes to squeeze out a victory by the slimmest margins. The team from Punjab will now face FC Pune City in the final of the tournament after the young Stallions overcame Aizawl FC 2-0 courtesy goals from P Nikhil and Akhil Rawat.
Nikhil Prabhu converted a low cross from left to send the FC Pune City dugout into delirium in the 22nd minute. Akhil Rawat, who came on as a substitute, found the target in the added time (90’+4). The final is scheduled to be played at the Don Bosco ground, Fatorda on Friday at 3:30pm.
Aizawl FC started on an attacking note and could have opened the scoring in the 7th minute of the match but Lalthanmawia could only hit the side-netting. Five minutes later, FC Pune City came agonisingly close to opening the scoring but Lelsemba’s cross failed to find anyone inside the 6-yard box. However, Nikhil exploited the defender’s mistake to head it in from handshaking distance. After the changeover, they started to show more urgency to double the gap but the Reds were able to stave off the danger.
Aizawl were on the receiving end once again as goalkeeper Vannunmawia was given the marching orders.
