Goan FC breaks Signals

RAWANFOND: A brace by striker Lalawmpuia and a stiff grounder from Aaren D’Silva was enough for Goan Football Club to hammer Corps of Signals 3-0 in the GFA professional Football League match played at 3 MTR grounds, Rawanfond on Friday.

Goan Football Club, who led 2-0 at half time, went on to add another goal in the second session through Aaren who bulged the nets in the 63rd minute of play.

With this win, Goan Football Club who are on the top of the league table have collected 32 points from 12 matches while Corps of Signals are on 9th position with 13 points in their kitty from 15 matches.

Controlling both the sessions of play with swift passes and positional play, Goan FC utilised all the chances that came their way, while Corps of Signals who created scoring chances on sudden counter forays simply messed up the opportunities either sending the ball wide off the mark or ballooning over the rival bar from close.

Goan Football Club made their intentions known right from the kick off when they came up with some defence splitting moves to rattle the Signals defence which somehow managed to survive some anxious moments till the 18th minute.

In the very next minute, Goan FC stranded the rival defence with a through pass from the right flank and as Lalawmpuia received the ball, he raced into the box, drew out the rival keeper Niyas Mon and placed the ball to the far end of the nets.

The second goal in favour of Goan Football Club also came up in a similar fashion after a long overhead ball from the middle was met by Lalawmpuia with ease as the entire Signals defence collapsed and Lalawmpuia who rushed into the box, sent the ball into the nets with a simple chip over the head of helpless keeper Niyas Mon who later made some brilliant saves.

Corps of Signals, who had their chances, three in the first half and two in the second, simply could not find the mark.

Signal’s medio T C Lalhuapzauva, Lairellaktam Singh and Pawan Thakur had great chances from close distance, but they failed to calm their nerves and shoot accurately when well placed inside the box.

While the first half was fought well by the Signals team they appeared out of steam in the second session to be completely dominated by Goan FC.

Arren D’Silva, who missed the mark on two occasions, finally got his name on the score sheet when he unleashed a power packed effort off a pass from Lalawmpuia to bulge the nets in the 63rd minute.

Corps of Signals team had two smart chances in the last two minutes of play but on both occasions, the team was unable to guide the ball into the goal. Signal’s Vishnu Chhetri shot over the bar from close distance in the final minute.