Thursday , March 28 2024

U-18 I-League: Sporting Goa score injury time 3-2 win over Salgaocar FC!

Sporting Clube de Goa left it late to walk home with their first win of the U-18 I-League against Salgaocar FC at the Duler Stadium on Tuesday evening. A brace from Veegan Ferrao (40’, 47’) and an injury-time goal from Alston Camotio (90+3’) ensured the Oranje their first victory, Liston Colaco’s (48’, 84’) solo battle for Salgaocar fell short of its mark this time.

Salgaocar FC were the first team to have a chance in the 25th minute when Kaushik Negi gave a swing from about 30 yards out testing Akshat Hadkonkar who had little trouble getting behind the ball. Sporting Goa responded through Alston Camotio in the 32nd minute, but his goal-bound shot was deflected off for a corner. Sporting finally drew the first blood in the 40th minute when Salgaocar FC custodian Nora Fernandes got down a charging Veegan Ferrao within SFC box, the resulting penalty was converted by Veegan making it 1-0 in favour of Sporting Goa before the break.

Crossing over both teams stepped up the tempo showing some urgency to dictate terms in the middle, the young Oranje were the first to make their mark in the 47th minute. Oranje striker Veegan received a great ball from Aliston on the right, the former swiftly turned to launch a powerful strike burying the ball into the Salgaocar FC net giving Sporting Goa a comfortable 2-0 lead. However, Salgaocar FC’s Liston Colaco had different plans, the very next minute he collected a good ball from Devendra Murgaokar beating the offside trap to place it past Akshat pulling one back for the Greens.

In the 50th minute, Liston had another opportunity but a heroic dive by Akshat saved the blues for Sporting Goa. The Oranje could have ended the Salgaocar resurgence in the 70th minute when Kinglsee Fernandes made a promising run on the left to cut in while creating space for himself, but his powerful shot went straight to Nora. It was then Salgaocar’s turn to create some pressure in the Sporting Goa box towards the end, the greens were rewarded when an Oranje defender gave away a silly penalty in the 84th minute allowing Liston to bring parity in the scoreline.

The final moments were, do or die for Sporting Goa as they launched waves of attacks. Salgaocar’s strategy of sending in long balls on the left hoping to find Liston were put to an end by some compact defensive work by the Oranje’s backline. Sporting Goa’s pressure finally worked when Princeton Rebello created a good move in the Salgaocar box to find Alston on the left who’s fatal shot drilled past Nora ensuring the Oranje walked home with the full three points. Sporting Clube de Goa now have three points from three matches played and will look to continue their momentum going forward.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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