PANAJI
Calangute Association and Sesa FA played out a drab 0-0 draw in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Tuesday.
The result would be a positive for both teams as Calangute Association have now remained unbeaten in their last four games, taking their points tally to 13, while Sesa have now registered back-to-back draws, moving to three points.
Calangute coach Valentine Ezeugo named an unchanged XI from their previous 2-1 win against Dempo SC, while Sesa FA had just one change in the starting line-up with Omkar Arondekar returning to the playing XI.
Calangute, who have been enjoying a dream run in the league having won their previous three games, made a bright start and could have taken the lead in the first minute. Nickson Castanha sent in a delivery in the box, which was cleared poorly by Sapan Singh. The ball fell to Sidharth Kundaikar, who couldn't connect a shot with the keeper on the ground, and the ball rolled to Siddhant Shirodkar whose weak attempt was cleared by Suraj.
From thereon, it was Sesa FA who enjoyed better play in terms of possession and passing. The academy boys were out of their blocks with a high pressing game which didn't allow the Calangute side to play their usual game.
Sesa should have been ahead in the game just after the half-hour mark when Shajam P threaded through to Myron Borges at half-line and with the Calangute keeper Paramveer Singh completely out of position, the latter lobbed the ball which went wide.
Sesa continued to miss their chances. Omkar whipped in a cross to Melvin Lobo in the box, which was dealt by the keeper but the ball fell to an unmarked Rizbon Fernandes, but the U-20 player shot wide with no one in goal.
At the other end, Sapan made a brilliant save to deny Siddhant from a distance as the fierce strike was brilliantly pushed for a corner by the diving keeper. Sapan was at his best in the first session as he made yet another save, blocking a brilliantly taken free-kick by Nickson Castanha.
Calangute started with attacking intent in the second session and were denied by the crossbar. Domnic Fernandes threaded a pass to Rohan Kamble, who got in a comfortable position before trying his luck from a distance. Sapan got a slight touch on the ball which was enough to see the ball deflect off the post.
Calangute’s Siddhant missed a sitter in the next minute. Kouame Junior cut back a pass from the right flank to Chaitan Dabholkar, whose cross in the box was guided over the bar from inside the six-yard box by Siddhant.
In the closing stages, Sesa FA’s Kunal Salgaonkar’s effort was kept out by a diving Paramveer.
