Team Herald
PANJIM: Nerul SC downed hosts Ponda Footballers 3-0 in the quarter-final to enter the semi-finals of the 27th All Goa St Anne’s inter-village festival soccer tournament organized by Ponda Footballers in association with SAG and Quadros Motors at Animal Husbandry ground, Curti-Ponda, on Wednesday.
Nerul were leading 1-0 at half time. Both the teams started the game on a positive note. But it was Nerul who took the lead with the efforts of Paul Cardozo, who beat the rival goalkeeper.
Ponda Footballers attacked through Planton and Alister. They nearly equalized when Lucas gave a through pass to Alister but he delayed in scoring the goal as the rival defence cleared the ball.
In the second half, Nerul attacked the rival citadel time and again. Deu tried his luck in the rival goal but his shot was punched out by the Ponda Footballers keeper. Nerul doubled the lead when Deepraj got a loose ball to unleash a power shot which landed into the net.
Ponda Footballers in search of goals went all out but Claren, Planton and Meliston’s try was saved by the Nerul keeper.
Nerul increased the lead as Ansol beat the off-side trap and chipped the ball over advancing keeper to make it 3-0. Siddarth Shirodkar of Nerul SC was adjudged man-of-the-match.
