Team Herald
PANJIM: Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim scored a hard fought 2-0 win over Panjim Footballers in the Goa Football Association’s U-20 TACA Goa Division One match played at Cavelossim ground, on Thursday.
Jolitan Fernandes (69′) and Xavier Rebello (82′) scored a goal each for the winners.
The teams restricted to midfield play during the first half as they cancelled out each other attacking moves to guard their respective citadel.
The travelling side showed persistence and tried their level best to score first but missed a couple of chance. Dattaraj Gaonkar, Aman Gaonkar and David Pereira tested the rival defence but failed to register their names on the score sheet. Cavelossim’s defender Darren Fernandes received a yellow card for the reckless tackle.
At the other end, the home side marshalled by Aaron Antao tried their luck at the goal but failed time and again as the teams went into the breather with no goal on the cards.
However Panjim Footballers’ keeper Karol Soares was booked for handling the ball outside the D-area while Cyrus Moura also received a caution from the referee.
Post resumption, the teams started on equal footing but gradually the Cavelossim side increased their pace and started attacking with Allwyn Vaz spraying passes from the right flank.
In an attempt, midfielder Xavier Rebello sent in a beautiful through ball to substitute Jolitan Fernandes who broke the offside trap and does past the defenders however the ball was timely collected by the rival keeper in the 64th minute.
In the 66th minute the Cavelossim side found the breakthrough as Jolitan Fernandes head home a perfect cross by Allwyn Vaz.
Struck by reverse the Panjim side tried hard to make amends and score the equaliser but failed time and again.
It was in the 82nd minute that Xavier Rebello drove the final nail into the coffin making it 2-0 in favour of the home side.
