Goa bags Jr National football title

Guwahati, May 27 (UNI) Goa lifted the Dutta Ray under-21 National Football title defeating Punjab 2-1 in a well contested match played here today.

Played under the flood light in the Nehru Stadium, it was match both side enjoyed under the cool temperature raising the standard to few notch with Punjab dominating the first half and Goa, seeking the winner, controlled the ball in the second half.

Goa found the winning goal five minutes to the long whistle and held on to the lead for the remaining minutes nervously to pick up the trophy after being one down within the first 10 minutes of the game.

Punjab, trying to break the jinx of ending in the runners up for the second successive time, played aggressive football right from the beginning and found the net in the seven minutes of the match when Lalhal Mehra gave his team the lead.

Stunned by the reverse Goa tried to get to equaliser relying heavily on the counter attacks. However, it was Punjab which controlled the game with some nice short passes keeping the Goa defenders constantly busy.

Goa got the equaliser in the 35th minute when Meingras Gonsalves was brought down inside the penalty box. The resultant penalty gave the Goa equaliser.

After the break, Goa went out vigorously for seeking the winner.

They had to wait till the dying moment when Gabriel Gonsalves found the net, sealing the match for Punjab.

UNI