PANAJI
Calangute Association scored a solitary goal win over Panjim Footballers in the GFA Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Wednesday. Jovito Fernandes scored the only goal of the game in the first session.
The first half witnessed several near-misses and excellent goalkeeping from both sides. Crespo D’Souza had the first opportunity for Panjim Footballers in the fifth minute, but his shot was expertly collected by Calangute Association goalkeeper Sanij Bugde.
Calangute Association, on the other hand, came close to breaking the deadlock from a setpiece, with Aman Govekar's header narrowly missing the side post following George Dsouza's freekick. Moments later, a dangerous delivery into the penalty area by Calangute's Dalwin Coelho was cleared for a corner, and from the ensuing corner, Melvin Lobo's header narrowly missed the target.
Panjim Footballers' Prasil tried to test the Calangute custodian Sanij with a shot, but it was deftly blocked. However, it was the Calangute Association that managed to find the back of the net in injury time of the first half. Jovito Fernandes received a long pass from Krishnanath and, seeing the goalkeeper out of position, executed a perfectly placed lob to make it 1-0.
The second half continued to provide excitement with Sanij from Calangute making a brilliant save to deny Crespo D’Souza's low shot. Calangute had an opportunity to double their lead when Joywin Carneiro set up Pedro Gonsalves, whose header rattled the crossbar, and Carneiro's follow-up shot was miraculously cleared off the line by Panjim's goalkeeper Preston.
In the dying minutes of the game, Panjim Footballers made a desperate attempt to equalise. Jonas Colaco's low shot struck the post and the rebound fell to substitute Shaviz Pathan, who -- with the goalkeeper out of position -- shockingly shot wide.
