GOA VELHA: Candolim Sports Club scraped through into the semi-finals of the 13th London Trophy, organised by Goa Velha Sports Club, with a hard-fought 6-5 sudden death win over 10 men hosts Goa Velha Sports Club.
After playing end to end football neither sides were able to break the deadlock in the first session. Even after Goa Velha were reduced by a man when Joseph Rodrigues was given the marching orders by the match official in the 31st minute of play for violent conduct, Candolim SC struggled to find the breakthrough as Goa Velha SC defended resolutely till the final whistle to keep their opponents at bay. There was no score till the final whistle.
Devendra Pednekar of Candolim SC and Goa Velha SC’s Prasil Kankonkar and Francis Fernandes were cautioned by the match referee Shivram Thanekar.
In the resultant tiebreaker, Candolim converted through Aniket Agarwadekar, Nehal Naik, Harish Bagakar, Akash Banavalikar, Jose Fernandes and Nikhil Naik. Goa Velha scored through Kunal Kundaikar, Francis Fernandes, Chatur Naik, Lokesh Talwar and Anthony Fernandes. Suresh Thapa’s effort was saved by the Candolim Sports Club keeper.
