the goan I network
PANAJI
FC Goa played out a goalless draw against Sesa FA in the AIFF Elite Youth League at the academy ground at Sirsaim. The draw, FC Goa’s third from eight games, saw the Gaurs go on to 15 points. The game might have finished without any goal but there was no lack of action as both sides got opportunities to claim all three points on the day.
A competitive first half saw FC Goa create the first real goal-scoring chance in the 19th minute courtesy of Sweden Fernandes. The winger cut in from the right onto his favourite left foot. He then managed to create space for himself before unleashing a curler that was destined for the top corner. Sesa goalkeeper Sapam Singh was, however, equal to the task and pulled off an acrobatic save to keep the scores level.
The young Gaurs were on the attack again a couple of minutes later. This time it was from the left as Asfin Pinto managed to latch himself on to a brilliantly weighted diagonal ball played over the top by Brison Fernandes. The winger managed to get in a low cross which Joybert Almeida controlled with his first touch before unleashing a shot on the swivel. That shot, though, was inches wide.
FC Goa keeper Manav Baraskar was forced into his first save in the 42nd minute of the match when he did well to keep a long-ranger at bay. The Gaurs only real scare came in the form of an ill-directed cross from the left which swerved innocuously and clipped the far post before being cleared.
Sesa came out the quickest in the second-half as their forward Naobi Singh found space on the left. He tried to clip the ball in to the centre but a brilliant dive from Manav Baraskar in the Goa goal denied them of having any chance on goal.
From then onwards it was FC Goa who dominated the game. Meuton Fernades’ shot in the 53rd minute just a foot wide whilst Sweden failed to beat the keeper after getting himself one-on-one 15 minutes later.
The ending minutes of the game saw a flurry of action with both sides getting an opportunity to clinch all three points. Whilst FC Goa’s goal in the 85th minute was ruled out for off-side, Yuvraj Alatekar nearly got Sesa the win a few minutes later. His shot, though, bounced off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing away.
