Team Herald
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CALANGUTE: A fine brace by Ashley Lobo helped Calangute Association beat Saligao Sporting Club 3-2 and enter the final of Mc Dowell’s No.1 Yaari Premier Cup 2016 Inter-Village football tournament, at Calangute Association grounds, Calangute, Friday.
Both the teams began on an attacking note and came close to scoring, but their forwards fumbled in front of the goal.
Ashley Lobo failed to beat the Saligao keeper Washington very early in the match.
Sachidanand of Saligao failed to get past the Calangute keeper after being well fed by Sachin Chopdekar.
Calangute’s Aniket failed to connect a Blake Haldankar high cross. Blake Haldankar missed the mark narrowly for Calangute while Saligao’s Michael Dias’ try hit the cross bar and rebound into play.
Ashley Lobo finally put Calangute ahead scoring in the 25th minute.
Stung by reverse, Saligao almost equalised when Calangute Keeper erred in judging the ball, but it was a lucky escape for Calangute in the end.
Changing over, Saligao went all out in search of equaliser but were undone by another Ashley Lobo strike in the 40th minute, which was disputed by Saligao as an off side.
Down by two goals, Saligao did not give up and almost reduced the margin but Abhijit failed to beat the Calangute keeper.
In the 45th minute, Saligao were fortunate to be awarded a penalty for handling the ball in the danger zone which was converted by Suvanand Naik to reduce the margin 1-2.
Calangute could have increased the lead in the 50th minute but a Pedro Gonsalves try was brilliantly saved by Saligao keeper Washington for an abortive corner. A back pass was messed up by Saligao keeper and Pedro Gonsalves lurking around made the best of the opportunity scoring the third goal for his team.
Saligao fought back and reduced the margin immediately with Abhijit Gaunekar heading the long throw-in by Suvanand. Saligao kept the momentum going in search of the equaliser but they ran out of time. Saligao Sporting Club Abhijit Gaunekar was adjudged the man-of-the-match.
