Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Ten men Goa Police halted Clube de Salgaocar’s unbeaten run with a convincing 2-0 win in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
Goa Police struck a goal in each session of play through Ronaldo Oliveira (15th minute) and Samuel D’Souza (64th minute).
With Sunday’s win, Goa Police have 15 points, while Clube de Salgaocar stay on 11 points both playing their sixth league match.
Clube de Salgaocar received an early second minute jolt with their stopper back Umang Gaikwad had to leave the field due to injury.
Both the teams started earnestly and it was only in the 15th minute that Goa Police hard-working medio Moises D’Sa floated the ball to over lapping right-back Siddesh Narvekar on the right flank who crossed the ball inside the 18-yard box where Clube de Salgaocar’s stopper back Janio Fernandes failed to intercept the cross and the ball rolled to unmarked Ronaldo Oliveira who drove a power-packed left footer which crashed into the far corner of the goal, 1-0.
Two minutes later, a rasping 25-yard strike by U-21 Rui Noronha was collected by Clube de Salgaocar’s custodian Sanij Bugde.
This time in the 31st minute, Goa Police received a jolt with the sending off their goalkeeper skipper Pratesh Shirodkar by Referee Sunil Nanodkar.
Pratesh, who had left his charge and in the process collided with Clube de Salgaocar’s substitute Mevzen Oliveira.
Play was halted for seven minutes with substitute goalkeeper Presley Mascarenhas taking the field.
In the seating gallery, Goa Police vociferous supporters were unhappy with the referee’s decision.
Three minutes into the second session and Clube de Salgaocar had their first good attempt at the rival goal, where a hot-blooded shot by Isac Zomuanpuia was saved by Goa Police custodian Presley at the first post.
Though being a man down, Goa Police continued on their onslaught and should have doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Mayuresh Naik squared the ball to Ronaldo Oliveira just outside the 6-yard box, who toed the ball at the goal which was brilliantly pushed by Clube de Salgaocar’s custodian Sanij Bugde for a corner with a full stretched diving save.
However, finally in the 64th minute, a scorching 25-yard strike by Saeesh Halarnkar was too hot for Clube de Salgaocar’s custodian to collect to find substitute Samuel D’Souza, who was lurking nearby slot the ball into the goal, 2-0.