PANAJI
FC Goa Development Team went down to ARA FC 3-0 in the 2nd Division League at Ahmedabad on Sunday. The hosts scored three quick goals in the space of just 14 minutes in the first half to register their second victory of the league campaign.
FC Goa coach Sugitesh Mandrekar named an unchanged lineup from last week’s defeat to Dempo SC, as Versly Paes and Manushawn Fernandes led the defence while Mevan Dias and Jordan Borges started upfront once again.
The Boys in Orange started the match on a good note, trying to attack by keeping the ball well. But it was not long before ARA caught up, and in the 22nd minute they broke the deadlock through Jacob John. Two minutes later, a solid strike by Shanid Valan helped Vivek Nagul’s boys double their lead. Valan found the back of the net once again in the 36th minute, ensuring that his team had a comfortable three-goal cushion when they returned to the dressing room at half-time.
Following the change of ends, FC Goa looked keen to keep things simple and stick to the basics, and it worked with the boys seeing more of the ball than their opponents. A lack of ideas in the final third, however, prevented them from making any real impact on the scoresheet. At the 70-minute mark, Mandrekar brought Jovial Dias and Saish Gaunkar on, in search of a goal.
Saish, who starred in the Young Gaurs’ win over Sesa FA in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) on Thursday, enjoyed another good shift that showed promise but ultimately witnessed his team end up on the losing side.
