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The FC Goa development team went down 1-2 to Sporting Clube de Goa in a tough Goa Pro League encounter at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa on Wednesday, January 24.
After a good first half showing from the Gaurs, Victorino Fernandes grabbed a brace with two good strikes to put the men in blue on the back foot. Hayden Fernandes got a goal back late on to half the defecit but the team was unable to turn the game around despite a late push.
The Gaurs started the first half on the front foot with Leander D’Cunha running at goal and shooting but he couldn’t direct his shot on target. Hayden Fernandes picked up an early yellow card for a rash tackle but kept calm for the rest of the half. Clifford Miranda’s men looked comfortable in possession and moved forward in a bid to find the breakthrough. Hayden almost opened the scoring with a stunning 30 yard shot which came back into play after ricocheting off the side post. The additions of Liston Colaco and Yasir Mohammed to the side gave them a lot more attacking impetus and the former could have opened the scoring after his corner grazed the crossbar directly. Sporting Clube de Goa were content playing the ball out of defence and counter-attacking the Gaurs and they were almost rewarded half way through the first half when a cross from the right headed goalwards but Mohammed Nawaz in goal got his hands to the ball to collect. As the half petered to a close, Liston spotted the goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious dink to give his side the lead. However, the ball crept wide of the post, giving Sporting a reprieve. Thereafter, Meldon D’Silva had the chance to score from a corner when he got his head to the ball but the keeper did well to save the shot. Right at the end of the half, Sporting had the final chance of the half when they were awarded a free-kick in a good area. However, Lalnunsiama managed to clear the danger as the referee called for time on the half.
The men in orange came out firing on all cylinders in the second period to take that elusive lead and they could have had the lead early in the half but Nawaz made a couple of excellent saves to deny them. After the initial burst, the game settled down and it began to become a midfield battle with both sides keeping the ball in the middle of the park. Hayden and Kingslee were orchestrating play for the Gaurs but were not able to release their forward players. It took an individual bit of brilliance from striker Victorino Fernandes to finally break the deadlock. He collected the ball outside the box, evaded the challenge of the defenders, burst into the box and shot the ball past Nawaz.
Clifford reacted by withdrawing Krishna Pandit for Aaren D’Silva in the hope of hitting back. The move nearly paid off moments later when Aaren got on the end of Yasir’s free-kick to send the ball goalwards with his head. However, it flew whiskers wide of the post much to the frustration of the Gaurs. The men in blue were awarded another free-kick moments later but Liston hit the wall. Not long after, Victorino doubled the lead for Sporting. The Gaurs continued to push forward looking for a way back into the match and their perseverance was rewarded after Hayden volleyed home a superb goal to half the deficit. Clifford’s men continued to attack to rescue a point but were unable to turn it around as the referee blew for full time soon after.
