PANJIM: St Anthony Sports Club, Marna-Siolim edged past Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda 2-1 to advance into the semi-finals of 42nd Bandodkar Memorial football tournament organised by Baina Sports Club, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Wednesday.
All the goals were scored in the first half. St Anthony Sports Club opened the account in the 14th minute when Arnaldo Simon Fernandes, after receiving a pass from Dalesh Pednekar from the right flank, netted home.
Upbeat St Anthony soon doubled the lead in the 25th minute through Sangam Pednekar, who was fed by Arnaldo from the left flank, taking the score to 2-0.
With the deficit of two goals, Don Bosco Oratory upped their tempo and started attacking the rival goal. Their efforts bore fruit with Francisco Almeida reducing the margin with a curling shot off Charlton Pereira from the centre in the 34th minute.
In the second half, Don Bosco fortified their goal area and increased the pace of the game with forwards Cristopher Borges, Francisco Andrade and Clencio Pinto raiding St Anthony’s citadel. But the strong defence of St Anthony led by Claudio Rodrigues, Sandeep Dhargalkar, Balchandra Vernekar and Francisco Fernandes thwarted the opponent’s strikes.
For the last 10 minutes, Don Bosco exerted pressure and brought scare in the St Anthony area and forced two corner kicks, Francisco Andrade corner kick was headed towards the goal by Clencio Pinto, which was cleared to safety by keeper Salil Chari of St Anthony towards his teammate.
In the dying minutes, St Anthony’s Dalesh Pednekar rasping shot went inches over the bar. Referee Niazi Shaikh flashed a yellow card to Paresh Korgaokar of St Anthony for dangerous play. Man-of-the-match was awarded to Michael Faleiro of Don Bosco Oratory.