Team Herald
MARGAO: Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club registered a narrow 1-0 win over Curtorim Gymkhana and marched into the final of South Goa Mc Dowells’ No 1 Yaari Premiere Cup inter-village football tournament, organised by Cuncolim Union, at Government Village School ground, Cuncolim on Sunday .
The all important goal was scored by Bersal Viegas in the 27th minute of the first half.
Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club started brightly holding the reins in the midfield with
Fredric Endro and Agio Antao controlling the midfield. The Areal midfield had a good shape to it and definetly looked the better team.
At the other end, Curtorim Gymkhana took time to settle down and did make some concerted efforts to breach rival defence. They had a golden chance to break the deadlock when striker Milagres Fernandes spurn the easiest chance of the day as he shot wide with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy.
Later James Fernandes rasping shot was well blocked by Areal goalkeeper. Sao Jose de Areal used the width and pace on the flanks as they probed the Curtorim Gymkhana citadel. In the 27th minute, Fredric Endro found Bersel Viegas who stroked a brilliant snap shot that sailed in past Curtorim Gymkhana goalkeeper Christo Hilario.
Stung by that setback, Curtorim Gymkhana regrouped quickly and instantly took the fight to the rival camp and Milagres Fernandes was the worst culprits as he shot wide from handshaking distance.
Curtorim Gymkhana had two chances but Milagres Fernandes and James Fernandes muffed them.
Post resumption, Curtorim Gymkhana responded with a series of raids with Milagres Fernandes and James Fernandes troubled the rival defence with well orchestrated raids but lacked the connviction in their builds and never really threatened the Sao Jose de Areal goal.
Alson Carvalho and Neville Fernandes continued desperately to fetch them the equaliser. The duo tested the Areal goalkeeper with well sorties. Areal continued to probe and nimbled away at the Curtorim Gymkhana defence and had couple of scoring chances but Fredrick Endro, Alvito Moura and Prisco Moura were the worst offenders as they failed to convert their chances.
Curtorim Gymkhana were bit lucky late in the second half when Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club missed a golden chance to score. Bersel Viegas who was the artichect of Areal’s win was adjudged man of the match.
