TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A fine brace by opportunistic medio Sertorio Monteiro helped reigning champions Curtorim Gymkhana to get the better of Saligao Sporting Club 2-0 and book their berth into the semi-finals of 41st HQ-NRB Bandodkar memorial football tournament organized by Baina Sports Club, at MPT ground, Vasco, on Wednesday.
Saligao Sporting Club dominated the opening stages with Vijayandra Shetye, Andrew D’Mello and Stefan Fernandes working in tandem but they could not penetrate the rival defence.
At the other end, Curtorim Gymkhana took the lead in the 13th minute through Sertorio, who received a short pass from Stefan Fernandes and darted a solo run on the left flank, cutting past a host of Saligao Sporting Club defenders and slot past goalkeeper Jason D’Mello, 1-0.
After change of ends, Sertorio struck again in the 35th minute with an assist from substitute Snako Dias.
Saligao Sporting Club tried hard to get back into the game but Niazi Shaikh missed to toe in from a goal-mouth melee and then, Vijayandra and Ajay Diwadkar’s effort went inches wide. Sertorio was adjudged man-of-the-match.
