The Goan Network
MARGAO
Goa Police played true to their potential as they came from behind to defeat 10-man Panchwadi United Sports Club 4-2 in the GFA's First Division League at Panchayat grounds, Raia on Wednesday. Both the teams were tied 1-1 at lemon-break.
Panchwadi had suffered a setback where they were struggling to avoid the drop, today exhibited a better perforamnce and surged ahead in the very 8th minute when striker Paxton Gomes slotted past the rival goalkeeper Niklesh Naik off a well measured pass from Cliff Baretto. Buoyed by the lead, Panchwadi intensfied their attacks and fired a couple of shots against the rival goal but without success.
At the other end, Goa Police looked reorganised after the setback and tried to string a few passes. But the inability to hold any shape denied them chances.
Goa Police neutralised in the injury time of the first half when Akshaf Shirvokar converted the penalty. Abdul Khan was brought down by rival defender Steve Fernandes in the 45+2 minute inside the rival penalty box and referee Jose Dias awarded the spot-kick. Akshaf sent the rival goalkeeper Ashish Betodkar the wrong way. Goa Police nearly made it 2-1 soon after resumption but Abdul Khan's unimprresive header went straight into the safe hands of Panchwadi goalkeeper. After that minor scare, relegation-threatened Panchwadi regrouped quickly and instantly took the fight to the rival camp and in the 50th minute Paxton Gomes beat the rival goalkeeper Ashish hands down off a pass from Cliff Baretto to regiser his brace.
Stunned by the lead, Goa Police went into attacking mode and came close in levelling the score but substitute Sachin Chopdekar's well measured chip missed the traget narrowly.
Goa Police equalised in the 66th minute when striker Abdul Khan's well-executed free kick deflected the human wall and eluded the goalkeeper to put his team on equal terms in the 66th minute. The equaliser boosted the morale of the Cops as they piled on the pressure and troubled the rival defence with sporadic raids.Three minutes later Panchwadi suffered a jolt when susbstitute Jorden Gomes was ejected by referee for using abusive languague after recveing the second cuation yellow card. Earlier he was booked for a foul on a rival player. Goa Police took the advantage of the numerical advanatage and made in t 3-1 in the 75th minute when striker Gaurav Kankonkar received the through pass from Dalesh Pednekar and beat the rival goalkeeper with a clinical finish. Six minutes before the long whistle Dalesh Pednekar added his name to the scorers' list when he punted the ball into the far corner of the net to troop out worthy winners.
With this win, Goa Police took their tally to 20 points from 13 matches while Panchwadi United Sports Club suffered their 11th defeat and have 4 points from 13 matches.
