PANAJI
Sporting Clube de Goa clinched the Charity Cup title with a 5-2 penalty shoot-out win over Sesa FA after the teams finished level at 1-1 in regulation time at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Saturday.
Sesa FA took the lead through Sankalp Kankonkar, but Sporting Clube’s Francisco Fernandes equalized in the second half to force penalties. Doyal Alves, Myron Fernandes, Selwyn Miranda, and Klusner Pereira converted from the spot, while Clive Miranda netted Sesa’s only successful penalty in the shoot-out.
The tournament was graced by GFA president Dr Caitano Fernandes, who later presented the trophy to the victors.
Sporting Clube dominated possession in the first half, controlling the game in midfield. Doyal Alves whipped in a cross from the right, picking out Biswa Darjee, but his header sailed wide. Minutes later, Darjee’s mispass allowed Sesa's Sankalp Kankonkar to capitalize, as he unleashed a long-range effort that slipped through the hands of SC Goa's goalkeeper Siddharth Rana, giving Sesa the lead in the 37th minute.
In the second half, Sporting Clube made a decisive change, bringing on Abhimanyu Singh to replace Siddharth Rana in goal. Singh’s impact was immediate, denying Velito Rocha from point-blank range in the 65th minute after a dangerous cross from Sachidanand Satelkar.
Sporting Clube pressed relentlessly for an equalizer and nearly found it when Klusner Pereira's cross found Dhiraj Chouhan, who narrowly missed making contact. Their breakthrough came in the 82nd minute, when Selwyn Miranda's attempt was blocked by Sesa's goalkeeper, but Francisco Fernandes pounced on the rebound, firing a half-volley to level the score.
Despite mounting pressure in the final minutes, Sporting couldn't find a winner, and the match headed to penalties. In the shoot-out, Sporting Clube held their nerve as Alves, Myron Fernandes, Miranda, and Pereira all converted. Sesa struggled, with Shlok Tiwari’s shot saved and Omkar Shetgaonkar sending his attempt wide, sealing Sporting Clube’s triumph.
