the goan I network
DULER
St Savio’s SC, Calangute came back from a goal down to squeeze past Dempo Juniors by a 2-1 margin in a GFA Geno First Division League match played at Duler stadium, here on Sunday.
Both the teams started on a promising note having won their last league match. Dempo had got the better of Youth Club of Manora, while St Savio’s had defeated United Club of Telaulim. After this win, St Savio’s SC have nine points from three matches, while Dempo Juniors stay on three points from
two matches.
It was Dempo Juniors that held the upper hand in major part of the first half but managed to score only once through Norman Dias. Dempo Juniors comprised of U-20 squad except of skipper Sachin Gawas, who was a live wire for the team and guided his side from the midfield with his swift runs
and short passes.
In the 36th minute, a good cross by Pristo Dias inside the goal area was not cleanly collected by Calangute keeper Dietmar Fernandes and fell for Norman Dias, who slammed it into the back of the nylons, 1-0. In the closing stages of the first session, St Savio’s Shashank Naik and Sanket Jotkar moved dangerously inside the rival penalty box but the last line of Dempo defence marshalled by Nikil Gurung and Kidron Fernandes thwarted their attempts.
On crossing over, St Savio’s outfit were a transformed side and found their equaliser in the 52nd minute after a corner by Ashley Lobo was superbly nodded into the goal by Sanket Jotkar, 1-1. Three minutes later, Dempo’s Brivon Dias sent a rasping 25-yard curling shot at the goal which was superbly parried for a corner by keeper Dietmar.
At the other end, St Savio’s came close twice in taking the lead where a 30-yard free kick by Ashley Lobo was parried for a corner by keeper Manjunath Hirekurbar. Minutes later, Ashley’s corner found Siddharth Shirodkar whose header was cleared on the goal-line by
defender Kidron.
However finally in the 71st minute, an excellent through ball by Sanket saw Shashank Naik get hold of the ball and, after dribbling past the advancing keeper Manjunath, he placed the ball into the goal, 2-1.
The Dempo colts went all out in search of the equaliser but Calangute’s last line of defence comprising of former Dempo defender Cresson Antao and Nevil Rodrigues time and again checked the attacks from Brivon Dias and Baggio Fernandes.
Sanket Jotkar of St Savio’s, Calangute received the Man of the match award from Dempo Juniors coach Anthony D’Souza. This is the third time Sanket has received the Man of the match award.
