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FC Goa began their Goa Pro League campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Velsao SCC at the Duler Ground in Goa. Jovial Dias and Mevan Dias, both on their debut in the Goa Pro League and for the FC Goa Developmental Team vindicated their promotion with goals on either side of half-time.
Deggie Cardozo saw his side start strong with Vasim Inamdar causing the most trouble in the opening minutes. It was Vasim who fashioned Goa’s first chance of note. The winger did well to put in an early cross on the volley in the 10th minute, but found no one attacking the six-yard box.
The Gaurs goal did live a charmed life following the early spell of dominance as Rohan Rodrigues found himself with a golden chance to give Velsao the lead on two occasions. The forward, though, failed to find his bearing in front of goal.
Just as Velsao began to feel comfortable in their own skin, the game would turn. The 26th minute saw Velsao let out a humph for not making the most of a chance from a corner as they threatened to break the deadlock again.
The 27th minute, though, was not so kind to them as Jovial Dias lit up the match for FC Goa with a piece of individual brilliance. The forward did well to lower the shoulder and shrug off the attentions of his marker in midfield before unleashing a scorching long ranger which proved too much for Jeet Gupta in the Velsao goal to handle.
The young Gaurs remained dominant for the remainder of the first 45 but failed to find a crucial second strike. Ivon Costa came closest to give FC Goa a two-goal cushion in the first half but saw his effort from a direct freekick crash off of the crossbar.
Despite the dominance, the Gaurs showed a little chink in the armour in the backline owing to lapses of concentration. It would have become interesting had Velsao’s Chadel Fernandes taken his chance from a gilt-edged header in the last minute of added-on time.
The boys in Orange came out from the break the quickest and nearly found the net in the early goings. Another debutant Mevan Dias saw his header loop over the keeper but crash off the post. Jovial on the rebound, couldn’t do justice to the chance either.
Mevan, though, wouldn’t be denied a goal on his debut as put the game to bed in added-on time after the completion of the regular 90 minutes. The young forward did well to bundle home Britto Pereira’s cross at the far post.
