PANJIM: Raitura Sports Club, Rachol edged past Don Bosco Oratory (DBO), Fatorda 4-3 via the tie-breaker in the final of 26th All-Goa St Anne inter-village festival soccer tournament organized by Ponda Footballers, at Animal Husbandry ground, Curti, Ponda, on Sunday. The highly contested match ended in a goalless draw in normal time.
The star performer was Raitura keeper Cosme Oliveira, who affected two crucial saves in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.
Veteran John de Cruz was at his best for Raitura and controlled the strings in the midfield. They had the upper hand in the opening stages and could have taken the lead in the very fourth minute but Oiles’s close ranger was parried away, followed by a header which sailed inches over the crossbar.
At other end, DBO got into a rhythm and Hanslum tested the rival keeper from far but it did not trouble Cosme.
Post resumption, the match settled into a familiar pattern as the teams came close to scoring.
In the tie-breaker, Oilex Oliveira, Jouston Barbosa, Raul Dias and Marius Deus scored for Raitura while Anthony’s effort was blocked. Mahadev Talwar,
Hanslum Furtado and Roger Azavedo converted for DBO while Rogue Borges and Danny Dias failed to score from the spot-kick.
Earlier, Adv Narendra Savoikar kicked-off the final. Individual prizes were awarded to Best Player of the final Hanslum Furtado (DBO) and Best Player of the tournament Oilex Oliveira (Raitura).
MLA Lavu Mamledar gave away the runners-up trophy and cash prize of Rs 21,000 to DBO while Adv Savoikar gave winners trophy and cash prize of Rs 31,000 to Raitura.
Fr. Tony De Souza, Sylvestor Fernandes, Rajesh Verenkar, Joseph Fernandes, Gokuldas Gaoncar, Stylex Bernard and Joseph Coelho were present among other dignitaries.
