Goa Professional League Roundup – Matchday 1

Dempo SC and Salgaocar FC registered big wins on matchday one of the Goa Professional League.

I-League team, Churchill Brothers, had to be content with a draw, while Vasco and Sporting were made to sweat for their wins.

5-Star Dempo

Dempo Sports Club beat FC Bardez 5-0 at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa.

Dempo dominated the game from the start and got the deserved lead in the 26th minute through Pednekar, who headed in a cross delivered by Mandrekar from the left.

The match was all but done immediately after the break. Pednekar scored his second in the 46th minute and Beevan made it 3-0 in the very next minute. Beevan scored his second goal and Dempo’s fourth in the 84th minute when he converted a cross from Jessel.

Jaison Vaz completed the rout when he added a fifth in the 89th minute.

Ronaldo blanks all Signals

A brace from Ronaldo Olivera helped Salgaocar Football Club beat Corps of Signals 4-0 at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa.

The match started at a slow pace, as the first half remained goalless. The Green Brigade stepped it up in the second half display. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 55th minute, which opened the floodgates. The Corps of Signals team were totally outplayed by the opponents as Godfrey Mascarenhas netted the team’s second at the hour mark. Two minutes later, Mackroy Peixoto scored the third. Ronaldo hit the final nail in the Signals’ coffin in the injury time with his second goal.

Calangute scores, but Vasco wins

Vasco Sports Club beat Calangute Association 1-0 at the Duler Stadium.

The first half saw tempers flaring on the sidelines and on the pitch. Fortunately, the half-time time whistle played truce as Vasco Sports Club went for the breather with a one-goal lead. The goal was a gift to Vasco which emanated from a lack of understanding between the Calangute goalkeeper, Savio Paes, and the team captain, Nicolau Colaco.

Calangute Association were caught all ends up in the 16th minute when Vasco’s Moises D’Sa floated a long ball sent near the Calangute penalty box. Nicolau headed the ball back towards his goalkeeper, who was out of position and the ball lobbed uninterrupted into the Calangute goal to give Vasco the lead.

Calangute went in search of an equalizer. The Vasco custodian, Sanju Thapa,, thwarted the efforts of Diptesh Naik and Jason Lucas shot over the post from close range. Vasco was lucky not to concede when Calangute’s Jason Lucas shot over the bar from the 6-yard box.

The goalkeepers from both teams, aided by poor finishing, were instrumental in keeping the scoreline to 1-0. Calangute had two more chances to level terms in the last ten minutes of the game, while Calangute keeper Savio made back to back saves to deny Schubert and Beneston from extending the lead.

Sporting made to sweat by Velsao

Velsao Sports and Cultural Club made reigning champions Sporting Clube de Goa fight for their first three points in the inaugural match of Goa Football Association’s (GFA) Professional League at the Duler stadium.

Sporting scored in the sixth minute. A corner was half-cleared by the Velsao defense and Sporting’s Glan Martins hit the loose ball with a daisycutter which in turn was deflected in by his teammate Peter Carvalho.

Velsao was awarded a penalty in the 24th minute after Joseph Pereira was fouled inside the opposition’s box by Clive Miranda. Skipper Michael Silva stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to see his effort palmed into the post by Sporting’s keeper Melroy.

After the break, Velsao leveled the scores in the 47th minute. Melroy blocked a shot from Joseph Pereira, but the ball fell kindly to Flan Gomes who slammed in the equalizer. The Sporting team claimed for offside, but the referee stood by the lineman’s decision.

Velsao’s goalkeeper, Suresh Lamani, was called into action a couple of times as Sporting threw in waves of attacks.

In the 80th minute, the pressure reaped rewards from a set piece. A corner delivery into the far post was headed in by substitute, Marcus Mascarenhas, to give Sporting a hard-fought 2-1 win.

Panjim and Goans play out a draw

Goan FC played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against Panjim Footballers at the Duler Stadium.

The development squad of the Indian Super League side FC Goa was first to score through Lalawmpuia in the 39th minute. The diminutive Mizo outwitted two Panjim defenders before unleashing a fierce left-footer from a tight angle into the far corner.

After the break, Panjim’s Sneden Rodrigues equalized in the 48th minute after a neat build-up play between Aiston Camotio and Chandan Gawas to find the striker.

The Goan FC team attacked in numbers and surged ahead through Liston Colaco in the 63rd minute. Scoring with his second attempt after his initial shot was stopped by Panjim goalie, Sherwin.

Panjim’s Snedden Rodrigues had the opportunity to level the score in the 70th minute, when he rounded the Goa keeper, Lalhmangaihsanga. However, his shot hit the post, much to the relief of the Goan FC players.

The Panjim skipper redeemed himself in the 77th minute with a well-placed shot placement to rescue a point against the Young Gaurs.

Angel hold out the Brothers

Churchill Brothers FC and Guardian Angel SC played out a 2-2 draw at the Rosary ground, Navelim. The first half was a somber affair, the only talking point was a yellow card for Guardian Angel’s Clifton Dias.

It was a different story in the second half.

Clencio Pinto put Churchill Brothers SC ahead in the 47th minute. Guardian Angel’s Yakubu Mohammed responded with two goals. First in the 61st and the second in the 70th minute to give the Cuchorem side a well-deserved lead. However, Churchill Brothers cut short the celebrations by leveling in the 71st minute, thanks to Gilbert Oliveira.

Sporting Clube vs Dempo SC in Round Two

The second round will take place between Oct. 17 and 21.

Churchill Brothers will host Velsao SCC on the 17th, while Vasco hosts Guardian Angels SC on the 18th. Panjim and Calangute will both aim to gain all 3 points on the 19th.

The big match is surely on the 20th when Sporting Clube host Dempo SC.

On the 21st, Goan FC will host Corps of Signals, while Salgaocar will travel to Bardez to complete this round.

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