Goa Pro League: Sesa hold Guardian Angel in an entertaining draw

Cajetan Fernandes played an influential role for his team.

Sesa Football Academy came from a two goals down to hold Guardian Angel Sports Club to a 2-2 draw in the Goa Pro League match played at Duler Stadium on Friday.

Goals from Joel Baretto (21’) and Beneston Barretto (45+2’) had put Guardian Angel in the driver seat at half-time, but Second half brace from Cajetan Fernandes (52’ & 55’) helped Sesa snatch a point.

Angels had five changes to their side following a defeat at the hands of Velsao SCC in the last match. Yunal Fernandes, Denvil Fernandes, Doyal Alves, Mevan Dias and Joel Baretto made the cut for the Curchorem side. On the other hand, Sesa coach Charles Dias made only two changes to his side which held Calangute Association in their previous match. Shridar Naidu and Faheez Mohammed found their names in the starting XI for the Academy Boys.

Guardian Angel should have taken the lead in the third minute, when Leny Fernandes’ corner was slipped off Sesa keeper Sapam Singh’s gloves. Joel tried to find the net with a tap-in, but Sesa defender Suraj Singh cleared the danger off the line.

However, Joel managed to find the net on 21 minutes for Angels. Leny’s cross was nicely intercepted by Sesa defender Minesh, which was later cleared by their keeper Sapam. However, the ball rolled to Joel who slotted in from inside the box to make it 1-0.

Sesa also came close to scoring in the 18th minute. Winger Shajam P tried to find his teammate with a low cross in the box, but his potent delivery was cleared for a corner by Angels defender Leny.

At the other end, Angels doubled their lead in the added minutes of the first half. Basanta Singh easily cut past a defender to enter the box and shot on goal, but Sesa keeper Sapam nicely blocked it. However, he could not manage to clear the danger completely. Taking advantage of the same, unmarked Angels forward Beneston Barretto made no mistake to finish the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-0 for his side at the break.

The Academy Boys regrouped at half-time and came out all guns blazing in the second half. They should have reduced the margin in the 48th minute. Substitute Stephen Colaco made a perfect cross to Shajam in the box, but the lad shot over the crossbar with an empty net in front of him.

However, just four minutes later Sesa were awarded a golden opportunity to level terms. Stephen’s strike was handled by Angles’ Benzu Clemente in the box to give away a penalty. Cajetan Fernandes stepped forward and calmly finished the ball in the net to make it 2-1.

Pumped up by the goal, Sesa came out attacking and were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the box, when Angels’ defender Leny brought down Faheez. Sesa’s Cajetan took the responsibility of the set-piece and brilliantly scored from it to make it all square.

Angels once again came close to taking the lead on the hour mark. Joel darted in the box and tried his luck with a fierce shot, but his goal-bound strike was brilliantly pushed for a corner by Sesa keeper Sapam. The Sesa custodian was a busy man on the field, as he came up with another breathtaking save in the dying minutes of the match. Joel was once again denied by Sapam to keep his side safe.

Just before this, Sesa should have sealed the three points with a winner in the 83rd minute. Stephen sent a cross to Faheez who went for glory with a sparkling strike from inside the box, only to see it denied by the rival keeper at the cost of a corner.

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