RAWANFOND- NAVELIM: Corps of Signals shot-out Goa Police Sports Club 4-3 via the tie-breaker to march into the quarter-finals of the Goa Police Cup football tournament, at 3MTR ground, Navelim, on Thursday
Both the teams were tied 1-1 at full time.
Although Corps of Signals striker Nim Tshering opened the scoring, they could not maintain their lead as Bhavesh Candolkar’s snap shot beat the rival goalkeeper.
Corps of Signals broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Nim Tshering nodded home a well measured floater which beat the rival goalkeeper hands down.
At the other end, the police team gradually started to see more of the ball but lack of creativity in the attacking third was not helping their cause when striker Gulrez Khan was thwarted by the rival defender in the 28th minute.
The police team came close to levelling the score but attacking midfielder Shaikh Mouzan Saliya’s thump header was well blocked by the Corps of Signals goalkeeper Vikramjit Singh. Corps of Signals came close in increasing their tally but Vishnu Chettri blasted wide from close range after Goa Police goalkeeper Nklesh Naik was out of position in the 38th minute.
After conceding the goal, Goa Police started with a sense of urgency and put tremendous pressure on the rival citadel and their efforts bore fruit in the 41st minute when Bhavesh Candolkar hoodwinked a host of rival defenders and placed the ball to the far corner of the net to level the score.
The second half saw both the teams showing the attacking intent but the equaliser eluded them. Corps of Signals’ Solomon Khonsai and Nimshering wasted open chances in the 47th and 48th minute respectively.
Goa Police striker Gulrez Khan remained the live-wire but his shot lacked power in the 53rd minute. With time running out, Lairellakpam Singh’s header missed by few inches for the military men.
In the penalty shoot-out , Vishnu Chettri, Lailreullakpam Singh, and Huidrom Singh were on target for Corps of Signals while Siddesh Narvekar, and Milind Shinde converted for Goa Police Sports Club.
Corps of Signals will now meet Vasco Sports Club in the quarter-finals on September 13, at Ella ground, Old Goa.
