Goa Pro League: Sesa edge Manora in 5-goal thriller

All the five goals were scored in the first half.

Sesa FA scored a thrilling 3-2 win over Youth Club of Manora in the Goa Pro League match played at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.

All the five goals were scored in the first half. Sameer Kashyap gave Sesa FA an early 6th minute lead before Manora scored twice through Sweden  Barbosa (20’) and Eldon Colaco (22’). However, Sesa were determined not to give up and netted twice before the half-time through Suraj (35’) and Rizbon Fernandes (37’) which sealed the three points for the Academy team.

Sesa FA started on an attacking note with Myron Borges creating constant opportunities in the early minutes. He first set a pass to Domnic Soares, but the skipper’s effort hit the woodwork from inside the box and went out of play.

But the academy side soon took the lead in the 6th minute and it was Myron who provided an assist when he set Sameer Kashyap in the area, who fired a low grounder at the far post to put his side ahead.

Manora took time to settle in the game and levelled the scores in the 20th minute when Eldon Colaco, on getting the ball in the area, set up Sweden Barbosa, who kept his composure and scored with a firm shot past the Sesa custodian Roanal Gaunkar.

In the 22nd minute, Manora doubled the lead with a brilliant team goal which saw them build on a counter. Arvind Silva dispossessed Sesa FA striker and played to Aniston Fernandes. The former Churchill Bros player threaded a defence splitting pass to Jason Barbosa, who was quick enough to send the ball to Eldon Colaco, who got on his stronger right foot and slammed the ball past the Sesa FA custodian.

Minutes later Eldon missed a glorious chance to inflate the lead when he was set on goal once again by Jason Barbosa, but the former’s effort saw an equal answer from Roanal Gaunkar, who stopped with a strong right hand.

In the 34th minute, Sesa FA were awarded a penalty when Micheal Silva brought down Myron in the box. Suraj stepped over and coolly converted from the spot kick.

Back into the game, Sesa FA regained their lead in the 37th minute. Shajam sent a low cross in the box where Rizbon Fernandes missed time his shot, however, luckily the ball lobbed over the keeper and entered the goal.

In the second half Manora had couple of runs in the area. Aniston got past couple of Sesa FA defenders with ease and shot at goal but Roanal Guankar pulled off a point blank save to deny the Manora from getting the equaliser.

Manora kept searching for the goal and nearly found the back of the net twice. First Jeh Williamson saw his cross which got deflected off Sesa FA defender Suraj, which was saved by the keeper and then Eldon Colaco’s cross took a strong deflection of a Sesa FA defender which came off the post. 

At the other end, Sesa FA who mainly relied on counters in the second session nearly sealed the game in the 82nd minute when Myron set Stephen Colaco on the right flank, whose powerful shot was fisted away for a corner by Manora keeper. 

Manora custodian Alison Soares came with a fine save to deny Kunal Salgaonkar from scoring their fourth in the stoppage time. He keeper got enough hand to the ball which hit the crossbar and went out for a corner. The resultant kick came to nothing.

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