Team Herald
BENAULIM: St Anthony’s Sports Club, Assolda registered a solitary goal victory over United Boys Dando, Colva to enter the semifinals of the 12th Bebe Costa Memorial Inter Village football tournament, organized by United Club of Benaulim at St John the Baptist Club, Benaulim on Thursday.
In a thrilling encounter which saw action at both the ends, St Anthony SC striker Vickey Fernandes’ goal in the second session proved to be the match winner.
The match began on a fast pace and St Anthony SC team had the first chance to score in the 24th minute but Rosario Fernandes’ shot sailed over the bar off Socorro Fernanes cross.
Colva also came close to find the mark but striker Baptist Fernandes’ left footed shot rolled just wide of the post.
Immediately, after the change of ends, St Anthony SC surged ahead when winger Kerry Vaz took the ball from Kevin Vaz on the left flank and his cross, inside the danger zone, created a misunderstanding with the colva defenders and as their young goalkeeper Germino Fernandes charged out to reach to the ball it made the job easy for onrushing St Anthony SC striker Vickey Fernandes to sloth into the net.
Thereafter it was Colva which made most of the attacking, but could not make the advantage count by wasting some easy chances.
Striker Baptist Fernandes who was a live-wire upfront created two more chances but Joseph Pererira and Joel Rodrigues failed to convert their chances.
In the dying minutes, Baptist Fernandes made a forceful entry inside the box eluding a couple of sliding tackles of St Anthony SC defenders –Julio Fernandes and Rosario Fernandes –to strike a fierce right footer which was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Johnson Fernandes.
Baptist Fernandes of UDB Colva was declared the man of the match.
