Calangute Association dominated Velsao SCC in a 2-0 win.
Photo Credits: The Goan Everyday
PANAJI
Calangute Association recorded a fluent 2-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Football Association Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler stadium, Mapusa, on Friday.
Kouame Junior and Sidharth Kundaikar scored a goal each in either session to secure full points for Calangute.
Calangute started the match with an attacking game from the word go and came agonisingly close early in the game when Nickson Castanha floated a perfect corner kick in the box, wherein Siddhant Shirodkar jumped highest but his header narrowly sailed over the bar.
The first half was totally dominated by Calangute as they created plenty of chances. Soon, Shirodkar saw his effort get blocked by the Presley with a diving save.
Velsao SCC lacked creativity and couldn’t get the ball past the opponent’s midfield. Though Ganesh Thakur worked tirelessly in the midfield, he lacked support from his team-mates. Velsao SCC were lucky when Rohan Kamble’ long-range effort came off the post and back into the play, but before any Calangute player could capitalise on the rebound, a Velsao SCC defender cleared the ball to safety.
Calangute deservingly took the lead in the 26th minute when Fulganco Cardozo floated a perfect cross in the box, which was met by Kouame Juniour, who nodded in from close. Unable to get past Calangute’s strong defence line marshalled by Melwyn, Velsao SCC’s Ronil Azavedo tried his luck from a distance but his effort failed to see the target.
The teams played more of the ball in the midfield in the second half. There was a huge penalty cry from the Calangute camp when Rohan Pednekar went down in the box after being blocked by Velsao keeper Presley Mascarenhas, but the referee showed no interest and allowed the play to continue.
At the other end, a quick counter from second-half substitute Joseph Pereira almost gave Velsao the equaliser. The forward ran down the right flank and squared the ball to Savelon Cardozo, who squandered a golden chance to score as he shot wide from touching distance.
Meanwhile, Velsao keeper Presley came with a good block to deny Pednekar, who was one-on-one with the keeper. Pednekar had Kouame on his right, but he preferred to go alone, ultimately losing the chance to double the account.
Calangute, however, doubled the account in the 85th minute when Kouame, on receiving the ball forward, squared it to an unmarked Sidharth Kundaikar, who scored with a calm and composed finish. In the dying minutes of the game, substitute Daryl Costa saw his long-range effort come off the crossbar.
