Team Herald
MAPUSA/ MARGAO: Craig Menezes slammed five goals as A A De Moira drubbed Holy Cross SC Arambol 6-2 in the inaugural match of the GFA’s Geno First Division League, in association with Johncy Restaurants, played at Duler stadium, on Friday.
The highlight of Friday’s match was a splendid five goals blitz from Craig Menezes for Moira side.
Moira broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, when Rudresh Tendulkar set up Craig Menezes inside the penalty box who finished clinically into Arambol goal, 1-0. It did not take long for Moira to consolidate their lead as this time Rohit Totad scored off a rebound from the goal post, after Craig Menezes had taken a crack at the goal, 2-0.
Arambol colts regrouped themselves and scored in the 32nd minute when Hemant Rodrigues blistering shot took a deflection off Moira defender leg to find the ball roll into the goal, 2-1.
In the 40th minute Moira’s Craig Menezes directed his header off Umesh Pujar cross from the right flank to make it, 3-1.
Arambol tasted success in the 61st minute as collected a pass from Nikhil and getting past two of Moira defenders scored with a neat placement. Moira once again came with renewed vigour and scored their fourth goal. A free kick by Siddesh Kesarkar at the far post was tapped into the goal by Craig Menezes, 4-2.
At the flag end of the match Moira pumped in two more goals in the 86th and 89th minute through Craig Menezes, to take the score tally to 6-2.
Craig Menzes received the Geno man of the match award from the hands of GFA’s Vice President Mr. Lavino Rebello
Earlier, it was learnt that A A De Moira team Manager Marshal D’Mello did bring to the notice of the organisers and fourth officials that their opponent’s team featured just one U-20 player Aliston Fernandes in their team’s line-up. Being the inaugural match, the referee Prasad Surlekar started Friday’s encounter with A A De Moira playing with two U-20 players while HC Arambol fielded just one U-20 player.
According to the competition rule, each team has to field two U-20 players in the playing eleven and Arambol side fielded just one.
Despite the win, it is learnt that Moira Club will lodge a protest on their opponents for not fielding two U-20 players.
The question remains, why Moira coach didn’t protest before the match and secondly why did the match officials play the match when they were aware if one team featured just one U-20 player when its mandatory to field two U-20 players .
Meanwhile, at Artificial Turf Fatorda, United Club of Telaulim rallied to defeat Youth Club Manora 3-2 in a neck and neck tie.
YC Manora took control of the game from the start and went on an attacking rampage as they eventually found the breakthough in the 9th minute through Cliffton Rebello’s splendid strike and soon doubled the lead through Raston Costa in the 11th minute.
Trailing by two goals, UC Telaulim bounced back and narrowed the margin in the 27th minute through Joel Dias’ strike. Telaulim side made amends for their previous mistakes and levelled terms through Mabel Miranda in the 61st minute.
Just when it seemed like the match would end in a draw, Joel Dias’ goal made the difference as he dribbled past a couple of players before netting the winner in the injury time to take home all three points.
