GPL 2019-20: FC Goa ease past Corps of Signals to begin campaign

Lalawmpuia, Leander D’Cunha and Aaren D’Silva scored for the Junior Gaurs.

FC Goa eased past Corps of Signals, as they registered an easy 3-0 win in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium on Wednesday. Lalawmpuia, Leander D’Cunha and Aaren D’Silva scored for the Junior Gaurs.

Signals suffered a blow in the 9th minute, when they were reduced to 10 men as their keeper Vikramjit Singh was sent off following a tackle on Lalawmpuia in the box and referee Pandurang Korgaonkar awarded a penalty kick to Goa. Signals coach Eban Mesquita who was sitting in the stands due to registration issue, sacrificed his U-20 midfielder Rajasab Thashildar to bring in keeper Binu Purushothaman, but he could not stop Lalawmpuia scoring from the spot to make it 1-0.

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A few minutes before this, Signals had a chance to surge ahead. Forward Vishnu Chhetri tried his luck from the top of the box, but Goa keeper Antonio Da Silva somehow managed to block his goal-bound strike.

At the other end, the ISL development side doubled their lead in the 17th minutes. Signals keeper Binu blocked Hayden Fernandes’ powerful free-kick, but he failed to clear the danger completely and an unmarked Flan Gomes found their skipper Leander D’Cunha with a square pass. The lad made a simple tap-in making it 2-0.

Trailing by two goals, the Army men tried to build-up pressure on the opponents and came close to scoring in the 33rd minute. Nim Bhutia’s long throw-in was smartly released to L Solomon Khongsai by Shuklab Bordoloi in the box. But, the midfielder saw his half volley miss the target by hairline distance.

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Goa coach Derrick Pereira brought in Aaren D’Silva to replace exhausted striker Lalawmpuia early in the second half and the forward delivered within seven minutes after coming on. Flan Gomes made a darting run on the wing and found him with a cut-back in the box. Aaren’s subsequent tap-in entered the top corner to make it 3-0.

Goa tactician Derrick Pereira made two more substitutions in the next few minutes. Hayden and Lalnunntluanga made way for Nestor Dias and Vincy Barretto respectively. Whereas Signals also used their remaining two substitutions, with Roshan Singh and Sobhamani Singh replacing Rohan Rodrigues and Shuklab.

The Army men had only one great opportunity in the second half, but Chhetri saw his strike kiss Goa keeper Antonio’s gloves and hit the crossbar before going out for a corner.

Click here for the Goa Pro League 2019-20 points table after this match.