FATORDA: Vivek Gopal heroics in the penalty shootout handed Sporting Clube de Goa 7-5 win over Guardian Angel Sports Club in the Goa Sevens Premier League match, played at Sports Authority Ground, Fatorda, on Wednesday.
It was a tale of two halves at Fatorda as Sporting led 3-0 at break, while the opponents came back strongly in the second half and levelled terms to push the match into the tie-breaker.
Vivek denied Sanwil D’Costa and later blocked Don Bosco Fernandes’ spot kick to give his team 4-2 edge in the shootout.
Sporting Clube earned two points while Guardian Angel SC get one point.
After leading the State team at the recently concluded Santosh Trophy –Coach Mateus Costa was seen guiding the young Flaming Oranje squad.
The Santosh Trophy runner-up started with Glan Martins, Marcus Mascarenhas, Cajitan Fernandes and Joseph Pereira while Guardian Angel SC side lead by Nicholas Rodrigues featured Micky Fernandes, Bonny Niasso and Benzu Clemente.
The Flaming Oranje made their intentions clear from the first minute as they attacked in numbers pressing their opponents deep in their own territory.
The Panjim side didn’t take long to break the deadlock as Cejitan nodded home off a corner kick in the fifth minute.
The teams playing their first short format football showcased exhibiting football to hundreds of spectators gathered on Wednesday.
Guardian Angel SC Micky Fernandes worked tirelessly in the midfield but the lad lacked the support from his teammates.
His aerial through ball to Ashley Araujo was exceptional but the latter fumbled in front of the goal when it mattered most.
Despite Sporting Clube enjoying better possession, the South Goa side came close to scoring in the ninth minute only to see the cross bar deny Nicholas’ well executed free-kick.
In the 24th minute Sporting Clube de Goa doubled the lead when George D’Souza was quickest to react of a goalkeeper howler when Guardian Angel keeper spilled Cajitan’s goal bound shot.
Avrishto scored the third for the Flaming Oranje just before the break.
The second half, turned out to be very exciting as Guardian Angel scored three goals to take the match into tie-breaker.
Guardian Angel began the second half on attacking note and were awarded a penalty kick when Glan Martins tripped Guardian Angel’s Nicholas in the box. Micky calmly converted the spot kick sending the keeper wrong way.
Sporting Clube found themselves on the back foot as the South Goa team constantly raided their territory.
The pressure finally paid off when Guardian Angel scored their second in the 48th minute through Don Bosco.
With five minutes to go, Guardian Angel SC were awarded another penalty when Glan handled the ball in the rival box. Micky stepped over and scored his second to draw level and send the teams into shootout.
In the tie-breaker, Cajitan Fernandes, Glan, Marcus and Mauvin Borges scored for the winners while Mickey and Perryson Rebello converted for Guardian Angel. Guardian Angel’s Vevek Gopal blocked two spot kicks to give his side 7-5 win.
Mickey Fernandes won the Man-of-the-Match award.
V M Prabhudesai, Executive Director of SAG, was the Guest of Honour, also present was Elvis Gomes, President of GFA and Benjamin Silva, President of Goa Sevens Premier League.
