BENAULIM: Candolim Veterans pipped Benaulim Veterans 2-1 to move into the semi-finals of the 19th V M Salgaocar Memorial Veterans football tournament organised by Prime Sports Club, at St John the Baptist Ground Dando, Benaulim, on Saturday.
Both the teams made a quick start with Benaulim striker Pele shooting aimlessly wide from inside the box and at the other end Vijay Parsekar with an empty goal shot wide.
Candolim finally managed to surge ahead in the 20th minute when medio Melvin Rodrigues’ floater created a panic inside the Benaulim box as goalkeeper Manoj Kesarkar’s and defender Seby Carvalho fought for the ball. The defender only managed a sliced header which was heading into the empty net but Candolim striker Allwyn Fernandes helped to roll the ball in.
The lead did not last long as five minutes later Benaulim striker Milagres Lucio took possession of a missed pass and after dribbling past Candolim defender Patrick Gonsalves slammed the ball past rival goalkeeper Francis Mascarenhas. Benaulim medio Domingos Sito and his counterpart Benedict Fernandes had an excellent outing but did not get proper support.
As the match was heading for a tie-breaker, Candolim got a flag kick with eight minutes remaining for the final whistle.
Benedict Fernandes sent in a curling shot which slipped out of Benaulim goalkeeper Manoj’s hand and the spill was quickly shot in by Candolim defender Patrick Gonsalves to give his team victory.
