Sesa FA come back from behind to hold Sporting Clube in Goa Pro League

Joel Colaco and Sridharnath Dnyaneshwar scored the goals for their respective sides on Friday.

It was another stalemate for Sesa FA as they held Sporting Clube de Goa to a 1-1 draw at the Goa Pro League 2021-22 on Friday.

Despite a dominant display by Sesa, Sporting took the lead in the 44th minute through Joel Colaco. However, Sesa restored parity three minutes later as Sridharnath Dnyaneshwar scored from the spot to make it 1-1. 

Sesa FA, who are unbeaten in the league, had three changes to their side which defeated YC Manora in the last match. Sridharnath, Mahammed Faheez and Aston Rodrigues found their way back to the starting XI. Meanwhile, Sporting head coach Savio Vaz also made a few changes to the side which beat Churchill Brothers in the previous game. The Flaming Orange brought Marcus Mascarenhas, Myron Fernandes and Rohit Totad in the lineup while keeper Sanij Bugde made the first start of the season.

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The Panjim-based club had an early chance to take the lead when Girish Naik sent a perfect corner to Joel Colaco in the box, who failed to bury the chance. Sesa also had an opportunity to surge ahead in the ninth minute as Aman Rajbhar tried to find his teammate Aston with a low cross in the box, however, Sporting keeper Sanij surged ahead to make a timely interception.

Sesa FA had another chance in the 14th minute as Sporting defender Alton Vaz made a defensive error. Taking advantage of the same, Omkar Shetgaonkar took control off the ball, only for Sanij to make a brilliant block. Sesa were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty kick in the next minute as a Domnic Soares strike was handled by Girish Naik in the box but the referee failed to notice it.

At the other end, Sporting defender Brendon Gomes tried his luck from the distance, only to see it timely parried by keeper Roanal for a corner. However, Sporting managed to take the lead from the resultant corner as a set-piece by Girish was headed in by Joel in the 44th minute.

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However, Sporting Clube de Goa could not hold onto the lead for long as Sesa FA were awarded a penalty kick in the added minutes of the first half. Faheez’s strike was handled by Sporting defender Alton in the box, only for Shridharnath to send it into the nets. The referee called for a retake as Shridharnath stepped up to beat Sanij from the spot to make it 1-1 at halftime.

The second half saw both sides trying to take the lead. Sporting's goalkeeper Sanij was lucky to escape without any card as he made a reckless tackle on Faheez just outside the box. The referee awarded a freekick to Sesa but did not caution Sanji for the reckless tackle.

In the final minutes of the game against Sporting Clube de Goa, Sesa FA had a couple of chances but failed to convert any of them.

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