RAIA: Verna Sports Club rallied splendidly to ousts Betalbatim Sporting Club 6-5 in the tie-breaker to enter the quarter-finals of the V M Salgaocar memorial invitational football tournament organised by Prime SC in association with Margao SC, at St John Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim.
In an exciting encounter, the young Betalbatim lads matched their inform rivals to keep the score goalless at the lemon break.
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Betalbatim strikers Wenseslau Antao and Selroy Fernandes kept the Verna defenders on their toes with their speedy runs. Salvador Rego almost broke the deadlock for Verna when his right-footer went inches wide.
After the breather, Betalbatim struck a double blow to their more fancied rivals when medio Naison D’Cunha struck a volley past Verna goalkeeper Royal Moniz in the 45th minute and two minutes later striker Wenceslau Antao connected a well measured cross from the right flank by Alden Fernandes to the utter joy of their supporters.
With the two goals down Verna then made a splendid recovery and striker Royden Rego held off the challenge of rival stopper Ashley Fernandes to shoot past Gladstone Fernandes in the Betalbatim goal. The goal put pressure on the Betalbatim defence and defender Mackinley Cunha brought down Hilton Fernades to concede a penalty which was easily converted by Salvador Gama.
At the end of regulation time, both the teams settled for a 2-2 draw.
In the ensuing tie-breaker Verna scored through Royden Rego, Ajay Satarkar, Salvador Gama and Nevil Menezes while Ashley Fernandes, Jesus Ferrao and Oliver D’Souza netted for Betalbatim. Earlier, the special guest Leslie Dourado, Seraulim deputy sarpanch and Manoj Kesarkar, panch Benaulim were introduce to the teams by Afonso Ferrao.
