FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Saligao United scored a hard fought 5-4 tie-breaker win over St. Anthony Sports Club, Siolim, to move into the semi-final of 15th London Trophy inter-village football tournament 2023 at Goa Velha Sports Club ground, today. There was no score at half time.
Saligao United missed a glorious opportunity to surge ahead in the 13th minute as a Michael Dias header off a Dylan Dias free-kick was saved by Siolim goalkeeper Sudhin Shirodkar.
St. Anthony wasted an opportunity in the 21st minute as a Dalesh Pednekar strike from top of the box off a corner by Sonu Mandrekar hit the crossbar and rebounded into play.
In the second half, Saligao United surged ahead in the 48th minute through a powerful header from Charnel Fernandes off a Nikhil Naik corner.
St. Anthony retaliated and nearly found the equaliser through Vidhesh Sawant but his powerful shot hit the Saligao crossbar and rebounded into play.
Nikhil Naik missed an opportunity to increase the lead for Saligao United but he shot straight to the Siolim goalkeeper Sudhin Shirodkar with just the Siolim goalkeeper to beat in the 63rd minute
At the other end, Kashiram Pombuphekar of St. Anthony saw his header easily saved by the Saligao United goalkeeper Augustin D'Mello in the 65th minute. Pushparaj Mandrekar scored the equaliser for St. Anthony in the added time of the second half when he tapped home from close beating the Saligao goalkeeper Augustin D'Mello.
In the tie-breaker, Saligao United scored through Nikhil Naik, Nestor Dias, Sydney D'Mello, Charnel Fernandes.
St. Anthony scored through Sangam Pednekar, Nathan D'Souza, and Pushparaj Mandrekar. Vipul Pednekar's spot kick was saved by the Saligao goalkeeper Augustin while Kashiram Pombuphekar shot wide for St. Anthony.
Charnel Fernandes of Saligao United was awarded the man-of-the match prize by Anthony Florence Fernandes.
