Goa Pro League: Sesa FA hold Sporting Goa, halt their winning streak

Myron Fernandes put the ball into his own net late in the game.

A last-gasp own-goal from Myron Fernandes helped Sesa Football Academy to secure a 1-1 draw against Sporting Clube de Goa in the Goa Pro League match played at Duler Stadium on Thursday.

Marcus Mascarenhas took the Flaming Orange into the lead in the 7th minute, while a 90th-minute own-goal from Myron forced Sporting to drop two important points in the title race. 

Sesa who suffered a narrow defeat in the last match against Churchill Brothers SC in the last match had shuffled their squad, as their coach Charles Dias made six changes to their side. He brought Minesh Kinkolkar, Shridar Veerumuthu, Shajam P, Cajetan Fernandes, Akash Kudnekar and Rizbon Fernandes in the lineup. On the other hand, Sporting tactician Savio Vaz made a single change to his side which defeated Velsao SCC in their previous outing, as defender Kinal Kindaikar replaced Clive Miranda in the starting XI.

Sporting made a great start to the match as they managed to take the lead in the 7th minute. Rohit Totad sent a cross to well-positioned Gourav Kankonkar in front of the goal, but the lad failed to slot the ball into the net. However, unmarked Marcus Mascarenhas made no mistake to put the ball in the back of the nylons, making it 1-0 for the Flaming Orange.

The Academy Boys had a chance to level in the 11th minute. Rizbon made a headed pass to Myron Borges in the box, but the lad went for glory with a first time short only to see it go wide.

A few minutes later, Sporting came up with another swift attack from the right flank. Myron Fernandes made a darting run on the wing and found Marcus with a low cross in the box, but Sesa keeper Sapam Singh came up with a diving effort to deny Sporting forward’s a goalbound strike. They had another opportunity to double their lead in the added minutes of the half. Sesa defender Myran Pereira failed to clear and Sporting's Nigerian forward Philip Odogwu pounced on the loose ball. He shot from close, but Sesa custodian Sapam once again came up with a brilliant save to limit the damage of his side.

On crossing over, Sporting defender Myron sent a dangerous ball to Kunal Kundaikar in the box, whose header was brilliantly saved by Sesa keeper Sapam. The Flaming Orange had the best opportunity to double their lead on the hour mark. Marcus nicely cut past an opponent and sent a square pass to Philip. The Nigerian forward made a perfect through pass to Sachidanand in the box, but the substitute shot wide. Whereas, Marcus powerful shot in the 72nd minute was brilliantly saved by Sesa keeper Sapam.

The Academy Boys should have scored the equalizer in the 87th minute when Sporting defender Alton Vaz made a defensive error. Sesa’s unmarked Suraj Singh got on the ball, but his strike went wide.

When it was looking like the Flaming Orange will extend the lead at the top of the table, Sesa managed to level in the last minute of regular time. Substitute Kunal Salgaonkar brilliantly danced past few opponents and sent a dangerous cross in the box, but in the process Sporting defender Myron headed the ball in his own goal, making it all square for Sesa.     

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