Two raging teams, one lenient referee; Goan FC leave victorious

NT NETWORK

Fatorda

Trailing by a goal, Goan Football Club showed character after striking back and trouncing Sporting Clube de Goa 3-1 in GFA’s Air Arabia Under-18 Football League match played at artificial ground, Fatorda on Thursday. It was evident that the game play in the last quarter was marred by some rough attacking tactics from both sides.

It was Sporting Clube de Goa that surged into the lead in the 27th minute through a hasty clearance attempted by Goan Football Club keeper Antonio Da Silva as he miscued his shot which landed at the feet of Sporting Club De Goa’s attacking medio Yunal Fernandes right inside the six yard box, who had no difficulty to utilise the grand opportunity in slamming the ball in.

Goan Football Club scored through Joybert Almeida (53rd min, penalty), Flan Gomes (66th min) and Doyal Alves (80+5 minutes of play).

As a matter of fact, Goan FC started the match on an attacking note and within minutes from the start had two glorious chances to find the mark, but on both occasions striker Joybert Almeida and Joviro Dias simply could not guide the ball in from a handshaking distance.

Goan FC, thereafter were seen raiding the rival team often after gelling superbly in all the departments of the game. They had the possession in their favour throughout the first session and the rest of the second half too and surprisingly missed out on several goal scoring chances. Had their strikers capitalised on the scoring chances, they could have well come out with an impressive number on the scoreboard.

Goan FC started the second session in the same vein as in the first half and stuck to the mantra of an attacking game throughout the 80 minutes duel, the last fifteen minutes being marred by rough play with the referee Melwyn being a mute spectator to the offences committed on either side. In the last five minutes, the referee in front of his very eyes ignored to flash his card when a Sporting Clube de Goa player clearly fisted his opponent. The referee was surrounded by the players from either side on at least three clear occasions questioning his decisions or rather inaction. What was surprising is that no one was willing to provide the full name of the referee.

Goan Football Club levelled the score in the 63rd minute of play through a penalty shot which striker Joybert Almeida dispatched to the far corner of the nets, giving no chance at all to Sporting Clube de Goa keeper Meiben Fernandes. The penalty was awarded as Sporting Clube de Goa defender Arjun Colaso brought down Goan Football Club’s substitute medio Joyal Alves inside the box.

Tasting success in restoring parity after missing several goal scoring chances, Goan FC went into the lead through a smart goal scored by striker Flan Gomes who on receiving a neat cross from medio Swiden Fernandes had no difficulty in bulging the nets from close distance.

Producing several forays, Goan FC almost ran riot and scored their third goal in the add on time of 80+5 minutes of play when substitute Doyal Alves bulged the nets with a gentle tap off a pass from Flan Gomes.