Salgaocar edge out Bardez on penalties in Goa Sevens

Keeper Jason saved two from the spot to help Salgaocar earn two points...

Alesh Sawant missed twice from the spot in the shoot-out as FC Bardez went down to Salgaocar FC 6-7 in the tie-breaker of a Goa Sevens Premier League match played at SAG Ground, Fatorda earlier today.

Bardez were in good form in Pro 7 format as they were crowned champions of Sanquelim Cup 2017 back in April, while Salgaocar were making their debut in the newly introduced football format in Goa.

The match started with possession football from the both the sides but Salgaocar were the first ones to look at goal when Brain Mascarenhas’ shot rebound off the post.

Bardez replied with a quick attack as Jessel Carneiro tried his luck from distance but his goal-bound shot was brilliantly pushed for a corner by Salgaocar keeper Jason D’Mello.  A few minutes later, the North Goan club was in action again when Alesh Sawant brilliantly curled the ball to unmarked Peter Carvalho but the former India international failed to control his header as the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Salgaocar were once again unlucky not to score as Nicolau Colaco saw his blistering shot from the halfway line hit the upright. They had one more chance to take lead when Rosario Mendes dribbled past few defenders in his superb run from his own half but failed to keep his shot on target from inside the box.

The Pink Brigade’s keeper Jeet Gupta was the busy man in the first session as he cam up with some brilliant saves to keep his side safe from any danger. In one of these, he made an acrobatic effort to deny Aslons powerful shot from point blank point. While Salgaocar shot-stopper Jason also stood strong in between the sticks. Bardez were more efficient in breaking the Salgaocar defence but every time failed to beat the keeper Jason.

The second half started with a sparkling kick from the centre. However, Salgaocar keeper Jason brilliantly fisted over the crossbar. A minute later, Alesh once again blasted on goal from inside the box but like last time, Jason made no mistake to clear it to keep his side safe.

At the other end, Nicolau's powerful shot from distance missed the target by few inches. A few minutes later, Bardez’s Alesh found unmarked Shubham Rao Desai but the striker’s tap-in went over the crossbar from close.

Bardez coach Climax Lawrence brought in Newton Azavedo and Chatur Naik replacing exhausted Franky Oliverio and Shubham to bring some sharpness in their strike force but they failed to produce any good show.

Whereas, Salgaocar continued their bad luck as this time substitute Clencio Pinto saw his shot kiss the crossbar and go out for a goal-kick. A minute later, Bardez keeper made an excellent blocked to deny Celncio’s powerful left footer.

Bardez coach Lawrence brought in his last weapon Joy Ferrao to strengthen his strike force but it was too late for the striker to prove his calibre for his team as the referee Tejas Nagvenkar blew the full-time whistle and the match extended to the penalty shoot-out.

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In the tie-breaker, Bardez keeper Jeet saved Umesh Harijan’s opening spot-kick. While Jason also denied Alesh from the spot. Nicolau, Clencio, Jovel Martins, Rosario, Brain, Jason scored for Salgaocar. Whereas, Alesh’s second spot-kick hit the crossbar in sudden death which made the difference as the Greens took away two points, while Bardez had to be satisfied with a point.