Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
RAIA: FC Siolim lifted the Mansion House Inter-Village Football Tournament title after edging Curtorim Gymkhana 6-3 in a tense penalty shootout, following a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time at the Cuncolim School playground on Sunday. The tournament was organised by Cuncolim Union.
Curtorim Gymkhana struck first in the 18th minute when Anslem Fernandes found the net, but Gaurav Vaigankar restored parity for Siolim in the 26th minute. The sides went into the breather locked at 1-1.
Siolim showed greater intent after the restart and took the lead in the 49th minute through substitute and prolific scorer Pushpraj Mandrekar. Fernandes again came to Curtorim’s rescue, netting his second in the 58th minute to make it 2-2 and force the match into penalties.
In the shootout, Siolim proved the better finishers. Mayuresh Naik, Mandrekar, Vaigankar and Lavnay Shirodkar all converted, while only Savio Piexote scored for Curtorim, handing Siolim a 6-3 triumph.
Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar was chief guest at the final and presented the prizes in the presence of Leader of Opposition and Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao, Vineet Kumar Bothra, Landry Mascarenhas, Artemio Da Silva, Fr Eremito Coutinho, Lavita Mascarenhar, Siddhesh Kurade, Shailes Vaidya, Angela Dias, Melvin Costa and other dignitaries and club officials.