Goa Pro League: Velsao register first win, edge past Panjim Footballers

With this win, the South Goans has four points from seven outings and are placed 11th, while Panjim remained in the seventh position with six points from six matches.

Velsao Sports & Cultural Club secured their first win of the league as they managed to edge past Panjim Footballers by a 2-1 margin in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Wednesday.

The South Goan club took the lead 39th minute through Jesloy Moniz, while Akram Yadwad came off the bench and scored for Panjim Footballers in the 79th minute to cancel the lead that Velsao had. However, Brian Mascarenhas scored with just three minutes to regulation time to book all three points from the match.

Panjim who had lost to Dempo SC in the last match had several changes to their side as their coach Thome Alex Alvares brought in Janio Fernandes and Xavier Rebello along with Pandurang Gauns, Fliton D’Cunha. Keeper Karol Soares also made the debut for the Capital city side. Assistant coach Climax Lawrance was in charge of Velsao who were playing without their head coach Jude Barreto. The South Goan club also had few changes to their side following a hammering defeat in their last match against Sporting Clube de Goa as Klusner Pereira, Romario Da Costa and Velroy Carvalho made into the cut.

The match which was restricted to midfield play in the first few minutes, came into action in the 17th minute when Velsao U20 winger Rohan Rodrigues nicely curled the ball to Jesloy Moniz who failed to keep his tap on target from inside 6-yards box. A minute later, the South Goan side came with another attack as this time Savelon Cardozo sent a cross to Rohan in the box but the U20 lad could not make most from an easy opportunity as the ball went out for a goal kick.

They had two more chance to take the lead in the next 20 minutes as first, Brian Mascarenhas set up Jesloy in the box with a well-taken freekick but the latter headed over the crossbar from close. While in the 38th minute Panjim Footballers' defenders made two superb blocks as Velsao star Savelon made brilliant footwork at the top of the box before unleashing a powerful grounder from just inside the box but Panjim defender Xavier nicely blocked his goalbound strike. The ball rolled to Ganesh Thakur who also tried his luck with a first time shot but this time Panjim skipper Janio came to rescue his side with a timely block.

However, the Capital City side could not hold the Velsao for a long as the South Goan side broke the deadlock in the very next minute as Brian’s perfect cross was smartly headed in by Jesloy to make it 1-0 for the South Goan side. They had an opportunity to double their lead in the added minutes of the session but Romario’s sparkling shot from the edge of the box missed the target by hairline distance.

Panjim who were completely outclassed by their opponents in the first session, came out stronger in the second half and created their first potent attack of the match in the 52nd minutes. Pandurang sent a dangerous cross in the box which was cleared by Velsao keeper Presley Mascarenhas with a diving effort. The ball rolled to Vallmiky who went for the glory from the top of the box only to see it miss by few inches.

The next few minutes witnessed attacking play from the Capital city side but they could not make any change to the score sheet as aimless attempts from Lloyd Cardozo and Akash Sanadi restricted them from finding the equaliser. They had the best chance to level back at the hour mark as Xavier found his teammate Joyson Gauncar with a fine cross but the last name could not put power in his tap as Velsao keeper Presley easily collected the ball.

Velsao also came with a series of attacks in the next 10 minutes whereas first, Panjim keeper Karol fumbled to collect Jesloy’s weak tap from close but their skipper Janio made a timely clearance. Later, Ganesh nicely curled the ball to Jesloy in the box but the forward could not control his trike as the ball went over the crossbar, while a minutes later, Jesloy was denied by woodwork off Shamer Swamy’s fine cross from the deep right flank.

Down by a goal, Panjim keeper Alex brought in Akram Yadwad and the lad delivered with few minutes after coming in as he smartly tapped-in off Lloyd’s cross making it 1-1.

However, Velsao once again retained the lead in the 87th minute when Savelon made a short pass to Brian whose stiff grounder gave no chance to rival keeper Karol and finished at the far post to making it 2-1 for the South Goan side.

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