SELVEL-GOA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE: PANJIM FOOTBALLERS BEAT YC MANORA

PANAJI: Panjim Footballers registered a solitary goal win over Youth Club of
Manora in the Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday. Chandan Gawas scored the only goal of the game, in the 48th minute.

The debutants, Manora surprised their opponents with a dominating display in the opening quarter. They maintained the shape and enjoyed better possession while Panjim struggled to keep the ball at their feet. Both sides however, failed to create any real danger in the session.
Manora had an opportunity when they were awarded a free-kick outside the box. But Panjim defender Akram Yadwad blocked Nicholas’ set-piece for a corner. The resultant corner saw Nicholas’ delivery drop between the sea of Manora players and go out for a goal-kick.

Panjim Footballers found it difficult to penetrate the Manora defence and their strikers struggled to get shots at the rival goal. However, Akash Sanadi who was constantly trying to feed the strikers, took the matters into his own hands when he tried a long-range shot. His shot had the power and the swirl, but his attempt received an equally brilliant answer from goalkeeper Luis Barreto, who dived full to his left to push the ball out for a corner.

Panjim came out stronger in the second session and took the lead in the 48th minute in what was their first real attempt on target.  Lloyd Cardozo played a grounder through to Chandan Gawas on the right of the box. The lad kept his composure and shot a firm grounder which found the back of the net, despite Luis Barreto making an attempt.

Panjim’s Lloyd capitalised on a Manora defensive lapse and covered some ground. With Manora defender blocking the young striker well, Lloyd shot straight at the goalkeeper. In the 87th minute, Lloyd played a long aerial ball through into the box to an unmarked Ashok Mehgeri, who delayed in taking his shot which was ultimately blocked at the expense of a corner by a Manora defender.