Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Candolim Sports Club scored a hard fought 2-1 win over Assonora United Sports Club in the GFA’s 2nd Division league match, at Duler stadium, here, on Friday.
One-minute silence was observed for the departed soul of Francis D’Souza, former Deputy CM of Goa before the start of the match.
In a keen tussle both the teams were locked 1-1 at the end of the first half.
It was Candolim who struck first, Michael Dias’ long floater into the goal area found Saprem Diukar who controlled the ball and slammed it into the far corner of the goal.
Assonora almost got back on terms two minutes later but agonizingly Dikshay Sarap’s free-kick hit the post and went out.
However, in the 36th minute, Dikshay Sarap was on target from the spot kick which was given by referee Premanand Mandrekar when Candolim keeper thwarted Vishnu Pawar inside the 6-yard box to equalise.
Candolim nearly made it 2-1 in the added time but Saprem Diukar with only with the keeper to beat could not direct his header goal wards from a cross delivered by substitute Nikhil Naik.
Changing ends, Candolim showed more urgency and should have been awarded a penalty when Saprem Diukar was brought down by an Assonora defender in the danger box but the referee did not find anything wrong with the tackle.
Candolim finally got the match winning goal in the 77th minute when Saprem cracking shot hit the top post and the ball rebounded to Nikhil Naik who made no mistake with his placement to make it 2-1.
At Sirsaim ground, Llyond Cardozo scored a fine treble to give Milagres Sports Club a comprehensive 8-1 win over Sinquerim Sports Club.
The floodgates opened in the 6th minute through Jayesh Kadam and Leon D’Souza doubled the account in the 20th minute for Milagres SC.
After a slow start, Sinquerim SC found their rhythm and pulled a goal back through Paras Devulkar.
But Milagres SC responded with two more goals through Joalan Fernandes and Leon, who completed his brace to give Milagres a 4-1 lead at the break.
Crossing over, it was an all Milagres SC affair. They totally outclassed their opponents in all departments of the game.
LLyod scored three goals within 12 minutes netting his first in the 64th minute and then doubled his tally in the 70th before completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute.
In the 79th minute Prabhakar M scored an own goal to make it worse for already wounded Sinquerim SC who were handed a sound thrashing by a resolute Milagres SC.
Candolim SC and Milagres SC qualified for the play-offs after securing the top two spots in the league phase following their wins in the final league matches.
At Poriat ground, Calangute Vagator PYSC squeezed past Cunchelim Sports Club 1-0. Anford Fernandes was the hero scoring the matching winning goal in the 26th minute.
On Thursday, Holy Cross sports Club Arambol and Saligao Sporting club were relegated to the Third Division.
