Team Herald
MAPUSA: Riding on Micheal Dias’ brace, Candolim Sports Club got the better of a resilient Vagator Sports Club 3-1 in the GFA’s 2nd Division League organised by GFA, at Duler Stadium, here on Friday.
After Friday’s match, Candolim improved their league standings having won three matches.
In a keen tussle both the teams were locked 1-1 at half time with Anford Fernandes providing the breakthrough for Vagator with a deft placement after some wonderful work done by teammate Shubham Gaonkar.
However their joy was short-lived as Candolim made it 1-1 in the 26th minute when Akxya Vengurlekar’s fierce 30 yard shot was well stopped by Vagator keeper Pratik Kankonkar and the ball rolled in the path of Nikhil Naik who dispatched the ball into the net.
Candolim almost took the lead just four minutes before half time whistle but Saprem Diukar’s rasping shot was tipped out for a corner by keeper Pratik.
However in the 56th minute, Blake Haldankar showed amazing footwork and got the better of Vagator defence and laid the ball to Michael Dias who outfoxed keeper Anand Kerkar and placed the ball into the empty net to make it 2-1.
Michael Dias finally wrapped up the match and got his brace for Candolim from a header to make it 3-1.
Candolim could have added more goals in the last ten minutes but Saprem Diukar and Nikhil Naik’s shots hit the post Nikhil’s header was well kept out by keeper Anand Kerkar.
Meanwhile, Mayuresh Naik scored a double hat-trick as Sinquerim Sports Club ran riot over Holy Cross Sports Club Arambol 13-0, at Poriat ground, Calangute.
Holy Cross Arambol fielded just seven players and were punished heavily by a massive upset of the league.
Mayuresh Naik completed his hat-trick in just 25 minutes as he opened the scoring in the 12th minute before he doubled the account in the 16th minute and completed his treble five minutes before the half hour mark.
The winners led 7-0 at the break.
Paras Devulkar scored a brace for the winners while Ashish Gawas, Dattaraj Tari, Samir Shaikh, Mandar N and Joaquim Pacheco also got on to the score sheet netting a goal each
