Team Herald
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RAIA: Calangute Association downed Curtorim Gymkhana 3-1 to storm into the quarter-finals of 52nd Custodio memorial football tournament played at Raia panchayat ground on Monday.
The highlight of the match was a brilliant hat-trick by Richard Cardoso of Calangute Association, the first hat-trick of the tournament, which proved decisive in securing the win.
The match opened with Calangute Association’s Richard Cardoso tapping in the first goal in the 10th minute, but Curtorim Gymkhana responded quickly with a well-placed shot by Anselm Fernandes just nine minutes later.
In the 56th minute, Richard struck again with a superb curling effort that beat the Curtorim Gymkhana goalkeeper. Shortly after, a powerful attempt by Milagres Fernandes of Curtorim Gymkhana was brilliantly saved by Calangute Association’s goalkeeper.
The final blow came when Cardoso dribbled past defenders and the goalkeeper to calmly slot home his third goal, sealing his hat-trick and the match for Calangute Association.
Richard Cardoso was deservedly named the man-of-the-match, with the award presented by Oswald D’Souza, former deputy sarpanch of Raia Village Panchayat .