the goan I network
DULER
Goan Football Club came from a goal down to hold Panjim Footballers to a 1-1 draw in a Goa Professional League match at Duler Stadium, here on Thursday.
It was Egyptian Fady Riad who gave Panjim Footballers the lead by scoring from the penalty spot in the 24th minute, while just two minutes later, Krishna Pandit equalised for the Young Gaurs. After the drawn encounter, the Young Gaurs climb to the 5th place with 33 points from 20 matches, while Panjim Footballers stay on 8th position with 19 points from
21 matches.
Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda made two changes to his side, which edged Churchill Brothers in their last match, as defender Meldon Silva and Sezwin Fernandes returned to the starting XI, while Panjim coach Savio Vaz also made the same number of changes, following their defeat at the hands of Churchill Brothers, as defender Schubert D’Costa and Mahesh Kumar found their names in the starting XI for the capital city side.
It was the Young Gaurs, who started brightly and came close in the 5th minute when Saviour Gama made a low cross to Lalawmpuia in the goalmouth but the latter failed to connect. A few minutes later, Lalawmpuia had another chance to put his side ahead when he was once again set up by Krishna Pandit with a superb through pass but his strike from close was blocked by Panjim keeper Gurpreet Singh.
At the other end, Panjim colts surprised their opponents with a 24th minute goal. Young Gaurs defender Franzil Negredo brought down Panjim striker Snedden Rodrigues in the box prompting referee Depraj Sangelkar to point to the dreaded spot. Fady Riad made no mistake to put his team ahead, 1-0.
However, their celebration did not last for too long as, two minutes later, Goan FC levelled the terms. Kingslee Fernandes made a lofted pass to Lalawmpuia in the box who cut back it to an onrushing Krishna, who made an easy tap-in to make it 1-1.
In the 33rd minute, Kingslee came close in putting his team ahead where he was left with just keeper Gurpreet to beat but his powerful shot from close was nicely blocked by the Panjim custodian.
On crossing over, the team did come up with some fine attacks which however faded on entering the penalty box. It was only in the 75th minute, Young Gaurs’ Kingslee found substitute Jason Barbosa in the box with a perfectly lobbed pass but the midfielder fumbled with the ball with just the Panjim keeper
to beat.
In the last quarter of the match, the Panjim colts did accelerate their attack but the last line of Young Gaurs defence led by Franzil and Meldon along with Saviour and Brian Faria did not break under pressure, to earn a point to their team.
