The opening exchanges at Duler Stadium had the feel of two evenly matched sides sizing each other up a midfield contest defined more by organisation and discipline than by clear-cut chances, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested in the early going. Sesa FA gradually began to assert themselves as the half progressed, fashioning opportunities that hinted at a side capable of finding the breakthrough if they maintained their patience. And on the stroke of the final ten minutes of the half, their persistence paid off in the most emphatic fashion. Sesa captain Aman Rajbhar found himself in acres of space one on one with FC Goa keeper Micky Dias, not a white shirt in sight and with the composure of an experienced leader, drove a long-range effort past the helpless Dias to give Sesa the lead their first-half display had warranted. One-nil at the break.
The second half told a very different story one of character, belief and the refusal to accept a defeat that had looked increasingly likely as the interval approached. FC Goa came out with renewed urgency and were level within nine minutes of the restart. Bryson Pereira picked up a long ball in the penalty area, took it in his stride and finished with a composure that belied both the pressure of the moment and the youth of the side. One-all and suddenly the match had an entirely new complexion. What followed was a tense, absorbing battle of wills, both sides pushing for the goal that would separate them, both defences standing firm and refusing to yield.
The decisive moment arrived with the clock reading eighty-nine minutes a long delivery dropped into the Sesa FA penalty area and Sitroy Carvalho arriving at precisely the right moment met the ball with a header from an acute angle that required both technical precision and the composure to execute under pressure. The ball found the net. At full-time Two-one in favour of FC Goa.
