PANAJI: FC Goa inflicted first defeat on Dempo Sports Club in Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League 2020-21 at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Tuesday. Vasim Inamdar (43’) and Lalremruata (63’) scored for the Young Gaurs while Darrel Mascrenhas pulled a goal back for the Golden Eagles as FC Goa won the duel 2-1.
FC Goa attacked from the word go. They had numbers upfront and had the first corner in the 1st minute itself. Sarineo Fernandes whipped in a floater in the box, which was headed in by Lalhmangaihsanga, but his effort narrowly missed the target.
The Young Gaurs kept on pressing in search of the goal. They earned a free-kick in the 12th minute, just outside the box. Sarineo sent in a cross into the box, but the Dempo SC clearance fell to Brison Fernandes, whose volley was brilliantly saved by Melroy Fernandes. The ball brushed the keeper and hit the crossbar before it came back into play.
Dempo SC had their moment as Ariston set up Kirtikesh Gadekar through and the youngster tried to find an unmarked Beevan D’Mello in the box. But before the striker could reach, Antonio Da Silva collected the ball to thwart the danger. Minutes later, Shallum Pires had an opportunity when a Dempo SC corner fell to him after taking a deflection of a FC Goa player. However, the Dempo defender’s poor left-footer saw his effort go wide.
FC Goa squandered a great opportunity to take the lead before the breather when Sarineo sprinted into the area with a fine run on the right flank and sent in a dangerous ball in the box for an unmarked Vasim, who missed a sitter with only the keeper to beat as he headed over the bar from five-yard box.
However, the U-20 player made amends to his earlier miss when he was fed by Malsa Ralte in the box. Vasim dribbled past a Dempo defender and got in position before shooting past the keeper. This time Melroy couldn’t keep the ball out, who otherwise had an impressive first 45 minutes.
SELVEL GOA PRO-LEAGUE FIXTURE (10-2-2021)
Churchill Brothers Sports Club vs Panjim Footballers, Duler Stadium-Mapusa, 3.45 pm
In the second half, the play was restricted to midfield in the early stages. But FC Goa scored their second when Vasim darted into the box and squared the ball to an unmarked Lalremruata HP, who scored with a simple shot.
Dempo managed to pull a goal back through Darrel, whose shot from outside the box ended into the top corner giving no chance for the FC Goa custodian. In the final 10 minutes of the game, Dempo came close to scoring from a set-piece. Suraj Hadkonkar dipped in a free-kick at the far post for Edwin Viegas, but the lanky defender couldn’t direct his header on goal.
