MARGAO: Ambelim Sports Club prevailed over Calangute Association 4-2 via the tie-breaker to emerge champions of all-Goa Varca Panchayat Cup inter-village football tournament, organized by Varca Sports Club, at Varca ground, on Sunday. The teams were locked goalless at the end of regulation period.
The teams displayed attacking brand of soccer and kept the festive crowds on their toes.
Ambelim Sports Club had their moments and moved menacingly inside the rival penalty area but their forwards misfired from close range.
Calangute Association took time to settle down and once they struck the rhythm they called the shots against the rival citadel.
Crossing over, the teams showed urgency and trouble either defence with sporadic raids but defenders stood tall in protecting their citadel.
With time running out, the teams went all out in search of elusive match-winner but yielded no result.
Ambelim Sports Club had the last laugh in the penalty shoot-out as Premson Fernandes, Jonathan Cardozo, Menino Fernandes and Rolf Cardozo scored.
The winners were richer by Rs 50,000 and were awarded a glittering trophy while Calangute Association had to settle for Rs 30,000 and the runners-up trophy.
The losing semi-finalists, Varca Sports Club and Guardian Angel Sports Club, Curchorem received Rs 5,000 each.
The following individual prizes were awarded to Fair Play team Carmona Sports Club, First scorer of the final Premson Fernandes of Ambelim Sports Club, Best defender of the final Premson Fernandes, Best striker of the final Pedro Gonsalves of Calangute Association, Best midfielder of the final Colin Sieiro of Calangute Association, Best goalkeeper of the final Benny Silva of Ambelim SC, Last touch of the match Rolf Cardozo of Ambelim SC, Promising player of Varca SC Vishal Fernandes, Man-of-the-match Aniket Subhash Mandrekar of Calangute Association, Best midfielder of the final Jonathan Cardozo of Ambelim SC, Third touch of the match Deep Govekar of Calangute
Association and Player of the tournament Pedro Gonsalves of Calangute Association.
Ex-Dempo Sports Club coach Socorro Coutinho; ex-National referee Peter Rodrigues and social worker Agnelo Mendonca were felicitated at the hands of chief guest Fr Candido Fernandes, parish priest of Varca church.
Fr Candio gave away the prizes in the presence of guests of honour Fr Damaciano Carvalho, assistant parish priest of Varca church; Varca Sarpanch, Charlton Lourenco; Deputy sarpanch, Tercy Fernandes, Luiza Rodrigues, Simon Fernandes and Sec Joaquim Rodrigues.
