PANJIM: Striker Arjun Shetgaonkar was at his best to guide Caculo College, Mapusa to a comfortable 7-0 victory over Post Graduates of Goa University to enter the quarter-finals of the ACF Trophy, organized by Herald Group in association with Sygenta India Pvt Ltd, powered by Goa Football Development Council and principle sponsors Indian Oil Corporation, at Agassaim ground, on Sunday.
It was Post Graduates who started off attackingly. Hilton Fernandes received a through ball but the eventual shot was rather weak to trouble the rival goalkeeper.
Soon, Glenson Britto of Caculo College squandered a golden opportunity as the winger shot wide from an ideal position.
Caculo College increased the tempo and went in search of the opener and finally were rewarded for their efforts when a shot towards goal was handled by a rival player as match referee Celvin Fernandes awarded the spot-kick to Caculo College.
Shashank Ashvekar took responsibility and placed the ball into the lower corner of the net giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper.
Caculo College almost doubled their lead few minutes later. Glenson Britto played the ball to Yogesh Raut but the latter could not finish neatly.
Post Graduates missed the best opportunity of the match when a goalkeeping error lead the ball to Keegan Do Rosario but the latter with an open goal failed to score.
Caculo College finally doubled the lead in the 26th minute through Arjun, who received the ball from the midfield and shot past the rival goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
The second goal helped the Mapusa-based college to increased their tempo as Arjun scored his brace.
Post resumption, Post Graduates worked hard to try and get a goal but Manjunath Patil increased the lead for Caculo College to make it 4-0.
In the 38th minute, Arjun sprinted past a few defenders and shot past the rival custodian to secure the first hat-trick of the tournament.
Then onwards, Caculo College went all out to increase the margin. With three minutes to go for the final whistle, substitute Sectus Britto of Caculo College received a ball from the midfield and gave a wonderful through ball to Arjun who was clearly the star of the day.
The striker ran past a few of his opponents and unleashed a low shot, giving no chance to the goalkeeper to make it 6-0.
Just before the final whistle, Arjun completed his tally of five to make it 7-0 in favour of Caculo College.
Referee Celvin sent off Joel D’Souza of Post Graduates for using abusive language. Arjun was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.
Caculo College will now meet Don Bosco College, Panjim in the quarter-final on November 8.
On Monday, DM’s College, Assagao will take on Dempo College, Althino. The kick-off at 4.30 p.m.
