MARGAO
Goa began their campaign on a triumphant note at the 37th Sub-Junior National Football Championship when they downed Meghalaya 2-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi in a Group A clash on Sunday.
With both teams jostling for possession and gradually cancelling each other out, there was little to highlight in first few minutes of the match apart from Goa hitting the woodwork with a loopy shot on goal. However, the match erupted into life in the 20th minute when Biam’s header tested the credentials of the Goan custodian, as a strong right hand by the Goan from point blank range denied Meghalaya the joy of scoring.
Shortly after, Darimiki missed a sitter for Meghalaya as he failed to put his laces into the shot, with only the Goan custodian to beat. In the 36th minute, Goa scored against the run of play and took a solitary goal lead. Few minutes later, a wonder strike by Anthony Fernandes, whose shot from 25 yards left the Meghalayan custodian wrong-footed, ended in the back of the net to double Goa’s lead.
Goa could have tripled their lead in the dying embers of the first half, but Merrytone Fernandes scooped his opportunity wide of the goal. The half-time scoreline read 2-0 in Goa’s favour.
The second half turned out to be a pale complexion of the first half as neither team created clear goal scoring opportunities with Goa mostly sitting deep and defending their lead, whilst Meghalaya dominating possession but with no penetration. With the game largely contested in the midfield, both teams gave each other a good test of credentials. With neither team being able to add to their tally in the second half, the full-time scoreline read 2-0 in Goa’s favour.
