MARGAO: Bardez Veterans dethroned Ponda Veterans 4-3 via tie-breaker to lift the 14th V M Salgaocar Veterans soccer tournament organised by Prime Sports Club at St John the Baptist ground, Dando, Benaulim on Sunday.
After remaining goalless at the end of regulation time Bardez Veterans goalkeeper Domnic D’Souza emerged hero in the tie-breaker to save three spot kicks to take the trophy.
Both the teams played cautiously and there was not much of action upfront.
Bardez created the first opportunity but striker Trevor Antao ballooned over a Datta Boji pass. After resumption Ponda forced the tempo but striker Martin Pereira pouncing on a loose pass of a rival defender shot tamely into Domnic’s hands.
In the pulsating tie-breaker Fausto Lobo, Allwyn Fernandes and Bruno Coutinho found the mark for Bardez while Datte Boji and Narendra Gad missed.
Ramesh Palkar, Vincent Colaco and Claude Pacheco made no mistake for Ponda but Remi Colaco and Santan Colaco failed to get past Domnic.
However in the sudden death Caitano Cardozo netted for Bardez Veterans as Domnic dived full length to stop Ponda’s Anandrose Fernandes’s effort.
Bardez Veterans were richer by Rs 20,000 and trophy while Ponda Veterans had to settle for Rs 15,000 and trophy. The chief-guest Caetano D’Silva, MLA Benaulim constituency gave away the prizes in the presence of Dr Wiseman Pinto, Lalita Correia Afonso, club president and organising committee chairman Trevor Fernandes.
Club secretary Boaventura Leitao proposed the vote of thanks and Anthony Rodrigues compered.
Individual prizes: best player of the tournament- Seby D’Costa (Bardez); goalkeeper of the tournamanet – Anand Adkankar (Ponda); best half of finals – Datta Boji (Bardez); best defender of finals – Ramesh Palkar (Ponda); best manager of tournament – Manoj Keni (Ponda) and man-of-the-finals – Domnic D’Souza (Bardez).
