CALANGUTE: Friends’s XI, Socorro scored a hard fought 2-1 victory over Saligao United to move into quarter-finals of MC Dowell’s No.1 Yaari Premier Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Calangute Association, at Calangute Assocition ground, Calangute, on Wednesday.
Both the teams began the match on a cautious note and took time to settle down. After failing to score on couple of occasions, Friends XI Socorro took the lead in the 12th minute through the boots of Denzil Sequeira who beat the rival keeper hands down from a 30 yard shot.
Stung by reverse, Saligao went all out to level the score but time and again their forwards messed up in front of the rival goal.
In the 25th minute, Saligao were awarded a free kick just outside the box.
Trevor Dias who took the kick gave no chance to the rival keeper Suraj to draw level for his team.
Crossing over, both the teams tried to outdo the other and came close to scoring on couple of occasions.
Roshan of Friends XI Socorro shot straight into the rival keeper off Francis Rodrigues connect.
Amar Kinlekar’s try was saved by Saligao Keeper Krishna. Edwin of Saligao shot wide off the mark from close while Stephen Kara finally regained the lead for Friends XI Socorro beating the Saligao Keeper in the 50th minute of play.
Trailing by 1-2 goals, Saligao went all out in search of equaliser but time and again Saligao forwards failed to find the net. Trevor and Allison tries went abegging from close while Taivan’s weak shot went straight into keeper’s hand.
Trevor Dias of Saligao United was adjudged the man-of-the-match.
