the goan I network
DULER
Sporting Clube de Goa managed to edge past Velsao Sports and Cultural Club 2-1 in the inaugural match of Goa Football Association’s Professional League at the floodlit Duler stadium, here on Wednesday.
In the presence of hardly a hundred spectators, holders Sporting Clube fielded almost the same squad that had given them the title last year, against newly-promoted Velsao.
Sporting started with stopper-backs Peter Carvalho and Clive Miranda in defence with five midfielders Quan Gomes, Alesh Sawant, Glan Martins, Stendly Fernandes and Joston Cardoz; and lone striker in the form of skipper Victorino Fernandes.
At the other end, Velsao played Michael Silva and Krishnanath Shirodkar as stopper-back along with four midfielders, Flan Gomes, Remedious Vaz, Sushant Borkar and Myron Borges, who tried to keep Jesloy Moniz and Joseph Pereira busy upfront.
The Flaming Oranje surged ahead when the match was just six minutes old. A curling corner by Alesh Sawant was cleared by Velsao defender and the ball rolled on to Glan Martins whose stiff grounder took a deflection off the leg of his team-mate Peter Carvalho to find it entering the goal, 1-0.
After the play being restricted to midfield for the next 20 minutes, Velsao lost a glorious opportunity to net their equaliser in the 24th minute. Sporting’s Clive Miranda pushed Joseph Pereira just inside the penalty box, where referee Prasad Surlakar without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot.
However, Michael Silva who had stepped forward to take the kick, saw his shot brush goalkeeper Melroy’s hands then hit the side post and rebound into play. In the 32nd minute, a 30-yard strike by Velsao’s Jesloy Moniz from the left flank, was pushed for a corner by Sporting keeper Melroy Fernandes.
Just next minute, a fierce long-ranger from Sporting’s Victorino travelled just over the post. Another best chance for an equaliser for Velsao went in vain where a scorching right-footer from inside the penalty box by Myron Borges, was brilliantly paired to safety by keeper Melroy.
Just two minutes into the second session and Velsao finally leveled terms to send their supporters into raptures.
Joseph Pereira’s strike from inside the penalty box was blocked by keeper Melroy to find Flan Gomes, who slotted the ball into the goal, 1-1. Sporting came close twice to regain their lead. In the 55th minute, Alesh Sawant’s half-volley was fisted for a corner by keeper Suresh Lamani, who once again came up with a superb save to parry the ball to safety as he flung to his right to keep Glan Martins strike out of making its way into the goal.
The Flaming Oranje attack was finally rewarded in the 80th minute through a superb header from substitute Marcus Mascarenhas off a free-kick by Alesh Sawant, as Sporting Clube made it 2-1 to clinch full points.
