PANAJI
Goa Police SC secured their long-awaited promotion to the Goa Professional League after edging out Albert Developers SC 1-0 in a tightly contested GFA First Division League final at Duler Stadium on Thursday.
Nakul Gawas emerged as the hero for Goa Police, scoring the all-important goal in just the 5th minute. The goal came at a crucial juncture, giving Goa Police a vital advantage early on.
“On behalf of Goa Football Association, I congratulate Goa Police SC on being promoted to the GFA Goa Professional League. It’s great that an institution like Goa Police has invested so much into Goan football and we hope they continue to invest in Goan football in future,” stated GFA Vice President Jonathan De Souza.
Having qualified for the playoffs with a dominant performance in the South Zone (6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), Goa Police continued their unbeaten run in the knockout stages, topping the table with three convincing victories.
Albert Developers SC, however, refused to go down without a fight. They gradually gained control of the match after conceding the early goal and threatened an equalizer on several occasions. The first half ended with Goa Police clinging to their lead despite relentless pressure from their opponents.
In a bid to find the equalizer, Albert Developers bolstered their attack with the introduction of Abhyuday Sabharwal and Aditya Talwar in the second half. However, the Goa Police defense remained resolute, thwarting every attack thrown their way.
The final whistle blew with the scoreline unchanged at 1-0, sparking jubilation amongst the Goa Police players and officials. This hard-fought victory not only secured the First Division League title but also marked their triumphant entry to the elite Goa Professional League.
