Calangute Association Stage Stunning Comeback to Draw With Club de Salgaocar in Goa professional League Thriller
Calangute, April 22: Calangute Association pulled off a classic game of two halves, roaring back from 4-1 down to snatch a 4-4 draw against Salgaocar FC in a breathless GFA Pro League encounter at Poriat ground on Wednesday.
Salgaocar FC came out with high intensity and dictated the tempo from kickoff. They pressed Calangute high up the pitch, forced turnovers in the final third, and were ruthless in transition. Felixson Fernandes broke the deadlock with a composed finish to make it 1-0, before Salgaocar doubled their lead and then added a third before the interval. Calangute looked shell-shocked, unable to cope with Salgaocar’s verticality and movement between the lines. The visitors went into the break 3-0 up, looking in full control and playing with a swagger.
Salgaocar picked up where they left off after the restart. Royson Colaco extended the lead, and Royal Oliveira made it 4-1, with Joshua D’Silva also getting on the scoresheet. At 4-1, Salgaocar looked to be seeing the game out, dropping into a mid-block and inviting pressure. But Calangute refused to roll over. Roared on by the home crowd at their fortress in Calangute, they threw numbers forward and switched to a more direct approach. The comeback was sparked when Arun Naik pulled one back, giving the hosts a lifeline and forcing Salgaocar onto the back foot .Dominic Fernandes then took over, grabbing a brace with two poacher’s finishes inside the box as Calangute overloaded the wide areas and whipped in dangerous crosses. Salgaocar’s back line, which had looked watertight, suddenly started sitting too deep and losing second balls. The equalizer came late through Vishesh Nasnodkar, who held his nerve to convert from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge in the area levelling the game at 4-4,
Salgaocar will rue switching off after going 4-1 up. Their intensity dropped, the double pivot stopped screening, and Calangute exploited huge gaps in transition. Calangute’s would’ve been through the roof but they pressed high, won the ball in dangerous areas, and punished Salgaocar on the counter. Calangute showed real character, turning what looked like a dead rubber into a contest. Going from three goals down to parking themselves on level terms.
Player of the Match was Awarded to Domnic Fernandes of Calangute Association, presented by GFA president Dr. Caitano Fernandes
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