Goa Pro League: YC Manora secure narrow 1-0 win over Velsao

The Salcete side moved a place up to the 10th with seven points from eight outings.

Skipper Nicholas Fernandes scored the only goal of the match as Youth Club of Manora (YC Manora) secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Tuesday.

Manora had six changes to their side following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Dempo SC in the previous match as coach Roque Carneiro named keeper Luis Barreto, Arvind Silva, Eldon Colaco, Michael Silva and Aaron Dias in the starting XI. On the other hand, Peter Carvalho was the only change for the Mormugao side which secured a narrow win over Guardian Angel SC in the last match.

After an attacking start, Velsao should have scored in the 5th minute when their U20 Deryl Silva made a brilliant through pass to Ganesh Thakur who easily cut past a defender in the box but Manora’s experienced keeper Luis came off his line to collect the ball on time. A few minutes later, they had another opportunity to take the lead when Brian Mascarenhas sent a perfect corner to Peter in the goalmouth but he failed to put power in the header as keeper Luis made an easy collection.

The next 15 minutes saw Velsao coming with two more attacks as first, they were awarded a freekick just outside the box where Brian tried his luck from the 35-yarder only to see it divingly blocked by the YC Manora custodian. Another great opportunity went in vain for the Salcete side in the 23rd minute as Deryl set up Jesloy Moniz with a brilliant through pass but the lad shot directly in the waiting hands of Manora keeper Luis.

At the other end, Manora took the lead from their first potent chance of the match as their skipper Nicholas Fernandes made a brilliant footwork to dance past three opponents in the box and finished the ball at the far post to make it 1-0 for his side.

The Salcete side should have doubled the lead in the 45th minutes when Nicholas made a through pass to Eldon whose placement towards goal from inside the box was brilliantly saved by Velsao keeper Presley Mascarenhas. At the other end, Manora keeper Luis was also tested again as Velsao’s brian sent a long cross to Jesloy in the box who saw his goalbound header diving pushed for a corner by the rival custodian.

On crossing over, Manora tried hard to double their lead but Velsao keeper Presley rescued his side on numerous occasions. In one of it, Manora’s skipper Nicholas darted into the box and set up his teammate Eldon who tried his luck with a powerful strike from the top of the box only to see it Velsao custodian divingly blocked his side to limit his side’s damage.

a few minutes later, Nicholas himself went for glory from the edge of the box but like last time, Velsao keeper made an acrobatic effort to push the danger away. Velsao also had a chance to equalise in the dying minutes of the match when their substitute Joseph Pereira was in the commanding position just inside the box but the veteran midfielder’s strike sailed over the crossbar. 

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