PANAJI
FC Goa scored a comfortable 2-0 win over Youth Club of Manora in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Monday.
Joybert Almeida (37’) and HP Lalremruata (89’) scored for the Young Gaurs.
FC Goa made three changes from their side which lost to Panjim Footballers as Joybert, Ivon Costa and Lesly Rebello were preferred in the playing XI. YC Manora also had three changes in their team. Clive Colaco, Arvind Silva and Sweden Bardosa started the game for the South Goa team.
With the senior team management including head coach Juan Ferrando watching from the stands, FC Goa started brightly and had the first chance early in the game when Joybert Almeida darted into the box, and headed in Ivon Costa’s cross from the left. But the effort didn't threaten the rival custodian, who collected with ease.
Manora have been always threatening with set-pieces and had the best chance in the game to take the lead when they were awarded a free-kick outside the box. Nicholas Fernandes sent in a curling ball in the box, but Jeh Williamson and Aniston Fernandes failed to get a touch.
The game was restricted to being a midfield battle for the remainder of the session until the 37th minute when there was a series of raids from FC Goa, which ultimately resulted in a goal. There were three shots blocked from inside the box wherein Delton Colaco and Ivon Costa tried to squeeze the ball into the goal. However, it rolled to Joybert, who smashed it into the goal to put his side ahead in the game.
In the second half, FC Goa came with another attack with Christy Dias nearly doubling the lead but Luis Barreto made a point-blank save to deny them their second.
YC Manora were nowhere in the game and were totally outplayed by the young FC Goa side. The Gaurs were denied their second once again by Barreto, who produced yet another fine save to deny Delton. Kapil Hoble, on getting the ball in the midfield, threaded a pass to Delton on the left, who got past his marker and shot at goal which was blocked by the keeper.
In the closing stages, Nicholas and Jeh Williamson had attempts on FC Goa goal, but they were easily collected by FC Goa custodian Antonio Da Silva. FC Goa had a free-kick outside the box, which Kapil fired straight to the keeper.
But the goal came within minutes as Lalremruata scored with a simple tap-in after Flan Gomes squared the ball in the box from the right byline. Luis Barreto made a late save to deny Delton from close.
