the goan I network
DULER
Panjim Footballers Sports Club huffed and puffed to hold Calangute Association Sports Club to a goalless draw in the Goa Professional League, organized by Goa Football Association, played at Duler ground, here on Friday.
The teams took the field after a heavy downpour before the start of the match, which made the playing surface slippery with overall play in the wet conditions becoming a tricky proposition. Calangute Association, having lost their last league match against Vasco, took the field and made a promising start as their kept their opponents’ defense on their toes. Panjim Footballers had stolen a point against FC Goa in their last match.
After much probing, Calangute came close to opening their account in the 28th minute when medio Dominic Fernandes sent an intelligent through pass to Sanket Jotkar but before the striker could create any damage, Panjim keeper Sherwin Da Cunha left his charge to clear the ball to safety.
In the closing stages of the first session, the Panjim colts came twice close to breaking the deadlock. In the 44th minute, a fine through ball by Chandan Gawas to his team-mate Daryl Costa was brilliantly cleared for a corner by Calangute skipper Nicolau Colaco. In the very next minute, a curling cross from the right flank by Chandan was parried away by Calangute keeper Savio Paes. The ball travelled to Vallmiky Miranda, whose strike was off target.
Within just four minutes of crossing over, a neat corner by Calangute’s Dominic was fisted away by keeper Sherwin. The clearance fell to Jason who in turn set up Sanket, whose reverse kick was superbly blocked by Sherwin.
After that play was restricted to midfield and action in the box was witnessed only in the last five minutes of the match. In the 85th minute, medio Dominic tried to find his partner Sachidanand Satelkar inside the penalty box, but before the ball could travel to the latter, Panjim keeper Sherwin dived to block the attempt.
In the very next minute, Calangute’s Sachidanand moved inside the penalty box from the left and sent a low cross at the goal where Marvoti Horizan played a dummy to an unmarked Rohan Pednekar, who had all the time in the world to tap the ball into the goal but ballooned his attempt over the post. Another great chance for Calangute came in the 88th minute, where once again Rohan Pednekar saw his header off a cross from Sachidanand go into the gloves of keeper Sherwin.
PLAYING TODAY
Sporting Clube de Goa vs Dempo SC, Duler ground, 4 pm
