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Goan FC registered a 2-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the 10th round of Goa Professional League organised by Goa Football Association at Duler stadium, here on Wednesday. After today's victory, Goan FC have 11 points and stand in fourth position, while Panjim Footballers remain on 6 points, and are placed 11th.
Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda returned to take charge of his team after his one-match suspension and brought in four changes in the starting line-up in the form of Lalnunsiama, Hayden Fernandes, Jason Barbosa and Brian Faria. With Kingslee Fernandes returning back from the Santosh Trophy camp, the midfield looked more stable. At the other end, Panjim Footballers coach Savio Vaz also brought up three changes by starting with Akeraj Martins, Devendra Pednekar and Prasil Kankonkar.
Young Gaurs scored a goal in each session of play through Hayden Fernandes (30th minute) and Saviour Gama (56th minute). The first 20 minutes of the match, were fought almost on equal footing. In the 7th minute, Snedden Rodrigues saw his strike from inside the Goan FC penalty box, sail just over the crossbar. Ten minutes later, a pinpoint cross by Young Gaurs' Leander D'Cunha saw Jonathan Cardozo head the ball wide of the target.
As the match progressed, Panjim Footballers' Akeraj Martins getting hold of a ball just inside the rival half, sprinted into the 18-yard box, but saw his strike miss the target narrowly. Young Gaurs had the best chance to break the deadlock in the 24th minute, when Saviour Gama collected a cross from Vincy Barreto, but his strike was brilliantly tipped over the crosspiece by goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh. However, in the 30th minute, Gurpreet could do very little when Hayden Fernandes drilled home a blistering strike from just outside the
penalty box.
On crossing over after some probing, Young Gaurs doubled their lead in the 56th minute when a low cross from the right flank by Jason Barbosa, was stabbed home by
Savior Gama.
Just six minutes later, Lalawmpuia was thwarted by Panjim goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh in one-to-one situation. In the 70th minute, Young Gaurs received a jolt when their goalkeeper Iprotip Das was sent off by referee Deepraj Sangelkar for deliberately challenging Panjim's Joston Cardoz in a goal-scoring opportunity just outside the penalty box. However, from the resultant free-kick Joston shot wide off the mark.
In the closing stages of the match, two more chances from the Young Gaurs went in vain. A close header from Lalnunsiama off a cross by Hayden was superbly collected by goalkeeper Gurpreet, while substitute Sarineo Fernandes failed to tap the ball into an open goal from close, with the entire defence beaten off Jason's cross.
