Herald: Calangute Association hold Sporting
Calangute Association holds Sporting
Herald of the team
MAPUSA: Calangute Association SC gave their all on Friday to defeat strong rivals Sporting Clube de Goa in a Goa Super League football match here at Duler Stadium with a goalless draw.
After today’s tie, Sporting have 22 points while Calangute Association has 19.
The teams played cautiously, with Calangute’s Medio Pratesh Shirodkar controlling midfield with the support of his skipper Saeesh Halarnkar, while Sporting’s Medio Lloyd Mascarenhas worked at the other end
tirelessly in midfield along with Ivon Costa.
Both coaches beefed up their defenses, with Sporting coach Armando Colaco using his skippers Clive Miranda and Alton Vaz as stopper backs, while Calangute Alex Alvares started with Nitesh Hazra and Melvin Lobo as his team’s stopper backs.
Throughout the first session, each team only had one chance to take the lead. A fierce header from Joywin Carneiro from a Jovel Martin corner was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Sporting U20 goalkeeper Bhasker Jalmi.
At the other end, a Nickson Castanha flagkick was cleared by defender Melvin Lobo for a corner. Goalkeeper Presley Mascarenhas made a good save from the resulting corner.
Sporting dominated the changes after the break. A Chandan Gawas shot on target was saved by goalkeeper Presley and a minute later Nickson Castanha’s goal was blocked at the expense of a corner by defender Melvin Lobo.
Sporting nearly scored in the 55th minute when goalkeeper Presley caused havoc with a high ball collection from Chandan Gawas, but before Joyson Gauncar could play the ball in, Presley managed to grab it.
Sporting continued to dominate, giving Calangute’s junior carret no room to play with defender Alton Vaz in top form.
It looked like Sporting would break the deadlock in the 71st minute, but
Goalkeeper Presley pulled off a stunning finish as he left his protégé
to thwart Sporting’s forward Lloyd Cardozo in a one-on-one situation.
At the other end, Nitesh Hazra headed a sharp cross from Pratesh Shirodkar over the bar.
In the final ten minutes, Sporting pinned the opposition in their own area, with stopper back Melvin Lobo and goalkeeper Presley repeatedly coming to their team’s rescue.
Calangute’s Joywin Carneiro received the Man of the Match award from Jaju Fernandes.