Goa Professional League Roundup – Matchday 24

Churchill Brothers FC suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Corps of Signals.

Photo Courtesy: Goa Football Association

Salgaocar FC move to second on the Goa Professional League table, while Churchill Brothers FC miss out on an opportunity to move up the table.

The round also saw the end of the campaign for Corps of Signals, Calangute Association FC, and Panjim Footballers FC. It was also the end of Goa Professional League adventures for Bardez FC, as they were relegated to to the second division.

Ronaldo Oliveira hat-trick takes Salgaocar to second place

Panjim Footballers FC’s 2018/19 Goa Professional League campaign ended with a 6-0 loss at the hands of Salgaocar FC at the Duler Stadium.

The first half was evenly contested with both teams creating chances. However, Salgaocar went into the break courtesy a stunner from Ribhav Sardessai in the 24th minute.

The U-20 striker latched on a through ball from Ronaldo Oliveira and put a curler past goalkeeper Sherwin.

The second half was Salgaocar taking the game by the scruff of the neck. Ronaldo scored his first in the 56th minute from a solo-run.

It was 3-0 in the 70th minute. Devendra set up Ronaldo who beat the keeper with a clever placement..

Seven minutes later, Ronaldo scored his hat-trick with a well-connected volley from a cross delivered by Selwyn.

In the last five minutes, Salgaocar scored two more goals. Devendra and substitute Josbon Fernandes completing the rout.

Salgaocar moved to second place with 41 points, while Panjim Footballers ended their campaign on 11th place with 15 points.

The Goa Professional League table at the end of Round 24

Army Men sign off with a shock win over Churchill

Corps of Signals signed off the 2018/19 Goa Professional League with a 2-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the Goa Professional League match at the 3MTR Grounds, Rawanfond.

The first session saw the I-League team fluffing their chances. Midfielder Nicholas Fernandes missed three of the four chances that had come their way. At the other end, Churchill’s goalie, Kunzang Bhutia had to quell the attacks posted by the Army Men.

The second half proved to be disastrous for the visitors as Signals took the lead in the 48th minute. Solomon unleashed a 20-yard curler from the left which beat the Churchill goalie all ends up.

The situation got worse when Solomon scored his second in the 69th minute. A Vishnu Chhetri shot came off the Churchill keeper to Solomon who slotted home to make it 2-0.

Churchill Brothers pressed hard in the last few minutes of play and pulled a goal back in the 85th minute. A shot by Anthony Wolfe was punched away by the Signals custodian, Vikramjit Singh, however Clencio Pinto scored on the rebound.

With this win, Signals finish their Goa Professional League with 22 points and move to the eighth position displacing Guardian Angel SC. Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, stay on the third position with 39 points.

Calangute end season with a 4-0 loss

Calangute Association ended their Goa Professional League season with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Churchill Brothers FC at the Duler Stadium.

Churchill had a bright start but failed to take the lead in the first half. In the fifth minute, Cyrus Noronha chanced upon a defensive lapse, but Calangute keeper Sanij Bugde came off his line to deny the forward.

Two minutes later, Bugde had to push a Nickson Castanha shot out of the way. However, the scoreline remained deadlocked at 0-0 at halftime.

Early in the second half, Calangute’s striker Rohan failed to beat the goalie from close.

Churchill broke the deadlock in the 49th minute. Uttam Rai’s shot from close blocked by the Calangute custodian, but the ball fell to an unmarked Nicholas Fernandes and the skipper slotted the loose ball to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later, the Red Machines doubled their lead. Nicholas made a through pass to Uttam Rai at the top of the box. The forward’s powerful shot entered the top corner to make it 2-0.

Anthony Wolfe could have made it 3-0 in the 64th minute, when he was brought down in the box. However, Calangute’s substitute keeper Shubham Naik who replaced injured Bugde denied the Trinidadian from the spot.

Wolfe, however, got his name in the scoresheet in the 73rd minute. A diving header off Jovel’s cross from the edge of the box made it 3-0. In the next minute, Uttam Rai completed his brace when he made a simple tap-in from the goalmouth to Shallum Pires’ low cross to make it 4-0 for Churchill Brothers.

Calangute finished the season with 16 points and are currently placed 10th in the standings.

Bardez end GPL campaign on a low

Corps of Signals ended Bardez Football Club’s journey in the Goa Professional League with a 4-0 thumping at the Duler Stadium.

Bardez FC now stand relegated from the league.

Vishnu Chettri put Signals ahead in the 17th minute when he beat an advancing Bardez keeper and shot a low grounder to the far corner of the net. Nim Bhutia provided the assist.

Bardez FC had a chance to get back on terms but Sanjay Vengurlekar who only had the keeper at his mercy blasted wide. In the closing minutes of the half, Nim Bhutia could not direct his header goal wards.

Signals doubled their lead in the 67th minute. Vishnu Chettri reacting fastest to a rebound after Suklab Bordolai’s shot from inside the box was blocked by Bardez keeper, Hrushikasu Kinalekar.

The Army man scored the third in the 81st minute. Suklab Bordolai heading in a long ball delivered by MS Roman.

Three minutes later, Signals wrapped up the match with a fourth goal. Amit Tariyal’s volley put the ball beyond the Bardez custodian.

Bardez Football Club managed only 6 points from 22 matches and conceded 79 goals in the process.

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