MAPUSA: Calangute Association Sports Club were stretched into the penalty shoot-out before they got the better of Saligao United Sports Club 6-5 to move ahead in the Vagator Soccer (UK Cup), organised by Vagator PYSC, at Vagator Ozran ground, on Wednesday.
Saligao United started earnestly and had two good attempts at the rival goal but the Calangute keeper Selwyn D’Souza came up with brilliant saves on both occasions.
In the third minute, he stopped Craig Menezes’ 15-yard shot and later in the 23rd minute he blocked Swanand Naik’s 12-yard shot from entering the goal.
While Saligao United failed to score, Calangute’s play-maker and medio Aiken Dias put his team ahead with an adroit placement after Runal Shirodkar had done the spadework to give his side the lead.
On crossing over, in the 44th minute, Saligao United managed to finally score the equaliser through Craig Menezes from an assist made by Swanand Naik past the onrushing keeper Selwyn.
Two minutes later, Saligao almost took the lead but Swanand Naik’s header from close went over the post.
In the penalty shoot-out, the Calangute side scored through Dominic Fernandes, Siddharth Simepurushkar, Sanjay Vengurlekar, Samir Chodankar and Aiken Dias, while Nukhil Naik, Sidesh Keserkar, Sachianand Satelkar, Jayganesh Goltekar scored for Saligao United.
Calangute keeper Selwyn D’Souza received the Man-of-the-Match award.
