DULER (GOA):
The FC Goa development team came away with a point from Calangute Association in a 1-1 draw at the Duler Football Stadium today. The Gaurs started the game brightly but were pegged back just before half-time through an outstanding long shot from Omkar More. They left it late to fight back and got the equalizer through a penalty in stoppage time with substitute Veegan Ferrao stepping up to send the keeper the wrong way.
FC Goa got off to a very good start and established control of the game early on. The Gaurs could have been ahead almost from kick-off when Saviour Gama received the ball on the left and swung in a left-footed cross which just about evaded the head of Aaren D’Silva running down the middle in the box. The Gaurs continued to dominate the early exchanges and pushed forward to try and find the opening goal. Attacking midfielder Yasir Mohammed was pulling the strings for FC Goa as Calangute looked to break the dominance of the Gaurs. Yasir then floated a superbly weighted corner towards the middle of the box but once again the ball just about went past Aaren’s head.
Some careless defending almost presented FC Goa with a chance to take the lead but Jason miscued his shot and Yasir’s follow up effort was blocked well. Aaren was holding up play well and almost provided a gem of an assist for Enestar. However, the winger couldn’t lob the ball over the onrushing defender and smash home. Calangute began to get back into the game at the half hour mark and should have taken the lead in the 32nd minute. The ball was laid off to an onrushing player on the edge of the box, but he contrived to shoot high above the post. Eight minutes later, Calangute’s claims for a handball are waved off after the ball appeared to hit the hand of Kingslee Fernandes. Right at the end of the first half however, Calangute finally managed to score. Jason Barbosa was guilty of losing the ball high up the pitch and the opposition played the ball into the channel. It was then laid off to substitute Omkar More who smashed it past Iprotip Das’ near post.
It was more of the same in the second period with the Gaurs piling forward in the hope of finding an equalizer. The opposition team was content in defending, absorbing pressure and counter attacking. In the 57th minute, they could have found the second goal after a ball was played down the middle, but Iprotip came off his line to smother the chance. Six minutes later, a mistake from Yasir almost cost the Gaurs after he lost possession close to goal from Iprotip’s pass. Calangute looked to catch the keeper off his line but he recovered well to save.
Jason Barbosa should have had the equalizer in the 70th minute but he missed a gilt edged chance. Hayden took down a superb ball in midfield and lobbed the defence to find Aaren who cross beat the keeper and fell perfectly to the head of the winger but he somehow managed to head the ball over and the chance went begging. Hardly a minute later, more could have had his second after Meldon’s slip saw him run through on goal. But Iprotip came off his line once again to save. The Gaurs were unable to penetrate the Calangute defence as they threw on Brian Faria, Veegan Ferrao and Sarineo Fernandes for Enestar, Yasir and Jason. As the game meandered to a close, it looked increasingly likely that Calangute would come away with the victory. There was however, a late twist in the tale. A long ball towards Aaren hit the hand of a defender as he attempted to take it down and the referee pointed to the spot immediately. Substitute Veegan Ferrao stepped up and smashed home, sending the keeper the wrong way. Not long after, the referee called time on the contest as the Gaurs escaped with a point.
