PANAJI
A clinical brace from Shawn Fernandes powered FC Goa to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chapora Yuvak Sangh in the GPL Super League, as the Young Gaurs combined early attacking flair with disciplined defending to secure all three points.
FC Goa took control of this GPL Super League encounter from the very first minute. The opening goal arrived through a moment of genuine ingenuity Bryson Pereira eschewing the conventional corner delivery, instead playing a short pass sideways before working a clever exchange and lofting the ball into the penalty area. Konsam Akash Singh met it first, nodding across to Shawn Fernandes who, without breaking stride produced a finish, One-Nil.
If the first was spectacular, the second was clinical. Within four minutes of the opener, Fernandes had his brace collecting the ball in midfield, carrying it forward with purpose and pace and releasing a shot before Chapora keeper Elesh Shirvoikar could set his feet or his defence could recover. Shirvoikar had no time to process the strike, let alone stop it. Two-nil. Vellington Fernandes nearly added a third before the break, only for Shirvoikar alert and well-positioned on this occasion to make a fine save that denied what would have been the surest of goals. The first half belonged almost entirely to FC Goa controlled in possession.
Chapora Yuvak Sangh emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of urgency and the desperation of a side that knew two goals in the remaining forty-five minutes was their only route back into the contest. A yellow card for Akash Parwar booked for a foul on Mervin Fernandes, hinted at the tension beginning to build in their ranks. But their persistence was eventually rewarded in the final quarter of an hour Omkar Shetgaonkar's corner delivery finding Saurabh Patil at the back post, whose header was precise and unstoppable. Two-one.
The goal changed the atmosphere entirely but could not change the outcome. Chapora pressed with growing confidence and began to find pockets of space that had eluded them for the majority of the evening but FC Goa's defence, admirably organised and disciplined in the closing stages, retreated into a compact shape and refused to offer their opponents the clear opportunities they craved. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for the young Gaurs.
