Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Goa registered a commanding victory over Arunachal Pradesh in the beach soccer competition at the second Khelo India Beach Games in Diu on Wednesday, winning the match by a dominant 9–2 margin. Displaying pace, precision, and attacking intent from the outset, the Goa colts maintained control throughout the contest.
Pedro Gonsalves emerged as the standout performer of the match, stealing the spotlight with a brilliant hat trick that set the tone for Goa’s emphatic win. His sharp finishing and movement proved too much for the Arunachal Pradesh defence to handle.
Goa’s attacking depth was further highlighted by Satish Naik, who found the net twice to complete a brace. Latish Kunkolkar added to the tally by calmly converting a penalty, while Abel Gurjao, Pawan Naik, and Pradeep Bind also got on the scoresheet as the match progressed, underlining Goa’s all round offensive dominance.
Despite being outplayed for long stretches, Arunachal Pradesh showed resilience and managed to score twice through Pill Takar, who netted both goals for his side. However, the efforts were not enough to stem the flow of goals from Goa, who continued to press and capitalise on scoring opportunities.
Earlier in the competition, Goa gained a walkover in their opening match after the Andaman and Nicobar Islands team failed to report for their scheduled fixture, giving them a positive start to the tournament.
Reacting to the performance, Goa head coach Bruno Coutinho praised his players’ commitment and spirit. He said the team was formed with available players who played with genuine passion and love for the game, adding that their desire and unity were clearly reflected in the result.
Goa’s convincing display has strengthened their position in the beach soccer competition as they look ahead to upcoming matches in the tournament.
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