PANAJI: FC Goa scored a comfortable 2-0 win over Youth Club of Manora in Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa. Joybert Almeida (37th minute) and Lalremruata HP (89’) scored for the Young Gaurs.
With the first-team management including head coach Juan Ferrando watching from the stands, FC Goa developmental side started brightly and had their first chance early in the game. Joybert Almeida darted into the box, and headed in Ivon Costa’s cross from the left. But the effort didn’t trouble the rival custodian, who collected with ease.
Manora have always been threatening on set-pieces and had their best chance in the game to take the lead when they were awarded a free-kick outside the box. Nicholas Fernandes sent in a curling ball into the box, which Jeh Williamson and Aniston Fernandes failed to touch.
The game was restricted to being a midfield battle for remainder of the session until the 37th minute when there were series of raids from FC Goa which ultimately resulted in a goal. There were three shots blocked from inside the box wherein Delton Colaco and Ivon Costa tried to squeeze the ball into the goal. And when the ball rolled to Joybert, he smashed it into the Manora goal to put his side ahead.
In the second half, FC Goa came up with another attack with Christy Dias nearly doubling the lead but goalie Luis Barreto came up with a point-blank save to deny the Young Gaurs their second goal.
YC Manora were nowhere in the game and were totally outplayed by the young FC Goa side. The Gaurs however, were denied their second goal once again by Barreto, who produced yet another fine save off Delton. Kapil Hoble on getting the ball in the midfield threaded a pass to Delton on the left, who got past his marker and shot at goal which was blocked by the keeper.
In the closing stages, Nicholas and Jeh Williamson had attempts on FC Goa citadel, but those were easily collected by FC Goa custodian Antonio Da Silva.
FC Goa had a free-kick outside the box, which Kapil Hoble fired straight into the rival keeper. Soon after, their second goal came within minutes as Lalremruata HP scored with a simple tap-in after Flan Gomes squared the ball in the area from the right byline. Luis Barreto came up with a late save to deny Delton from close.
