THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Goa-India win the Lusofonia Games football tournament

Goa-India stars Brandon Fernandes and Sahil Tavora

Goa-India stars Brandon Fernandes and Sahil Tavora

The Goa-India team has won the Lusofonia Games Goa 2014 football tournament with a 3-2 defeat of Mozambique in the final on Tuesday.

Goa-India took an early lead when Meldon D’Silva headed home just three minutes into the game. Brandon Fernandes delivered a perfect cross to the box after a corner kick and Meldon D’Silva put the ball past Mozambique keeper Cesar Machava to give the home side the lead.

Mozambique didn’t surrender to the early goal as the Africans hit the crossbar and challenged Albino Gomes’ goal on a few occasions. Dercio Matimbe found the back of the net for Mozambique in the 24th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Mozambique looked the better side as the match proceeded,  but things got another turn when Osvaldo Sunde handled the ball in the Mozambique box. The referee correctly awarded Goa-India a penalty. ASD Cape Town star Brandon Fernandes cooly converted the penalty to put Goa-India back in the lead in the 41st minute.

Goa-India went into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead and the vociferous support of the full capacity crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao. Goa-India’s Portuguese coach Francesco Neto didn’t make any changes to the line-up at half-time as his side looked to create history as they had the chance to win the Lusofonia Games football tournament for the first time.

Myron Fernandes increased the lead for Goa-India in the 51st minute, when he received a great through ball by Brandon Fernandes just to put the ball past the Mozambique keeper with a right-footed shot.

Mozambique reduced the margin in the 72nd minute as Luis volleyed the ball past Albino Gomes off a cross from the left side. Goa-India relied on counter attacks after the goal and Francesco Neto’s team tried to keep their box clean and safe in the final minutes of the match.

The celebrations started on the pitch and the stand when the Nepalese referee blew the full time whistle. Goa-India claimed the gold medal of the Lusofonia Games football tournament, while Mozambique received the silver medal.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won the 3rd Place Match against Macau to claim the bronze medal.