Team Herald
MAPUSA: Benny XI Sports Club struggled before registering a 3-2 win over Guirim YSCC in the GFA’s Third Division League match at Duler ground, here, on Thursday.
With Thursday’s win, Benny have qualified for the play-off round from Group B.
After several missed opportunities from both the sides Benny managed to burst into the lead in the 10th minute of play when Chandan Gawas neatly set up Jesroy Fernandes who fired the ball into the far corner of the Guirim goal.
Guirim tried hard to level terms. However, their strikers lost ideas on entering the rival goal which gave Benny a one goal advantage at the breather.
Crossing over, Benny continued from where they had left and further increased the lead in the 50th minute once again through Jesroy, who on receiving a through pass from Michael Dias, cut past a host of defenders and tapped the ball home.
Ten minutes later, Guirim were presented with a golden opportunity to reduce the margin when they were awarded a penalty. Noel Viegas, who stepped forward to take the kick made no mistake in making it 2-1.
Buoyed by the goal, Guirim came with the equaliser in the 73rd minute of play through Chandan Govekar, whose power-packed strike had no answer from the rival keeper.
When it looked like the match was headed for a draw Chandan Gawas struck the all-important goal for Benny in the 90th minute to ensure his side moved forward to the play-off round.
At Nachinola ground, Cunchelim Sports Club edged past Bastora United Sports Club 2-1.
Cunchelim took the lead as early in the 2nd minute of the match when Nayan Virnodkar collected the ball inside the danger zone and after making his way past the defenders scored through an adroit placement.
On resumption of play, Omkar Sawant saw his blistering shot from the top of the box land to the far end of the Bastora goal to take Cunchelim two goals up.
Bastora pressed hard to get back into the match and their efforts paid off to reduce the margin when Swapnil Haldankar struck home from close range, 2-1.
At Chapora ground, ABC Arambol came from behind to hold St Anthony’s Sports Club, Marna to a 1-1 draw.
After a barren first half, it was St Anthony’s SC who took the lead in the 70th minute of play when Edric Fernandes sent the ball across the goal area to Videsh Sawant who leapt high to head it into the nets, 1-0.
In the 82nd minute of play, ABC Arambol came with the equaliser when St Anthony’s SC keeper failed to keep away Russel Fernandes’ strike where the ball travelled to unmarked Oswald D’Souza, who neatly headed home.
