PANJIM: Fr Agnel’s College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar, came out trumps in a battle of defences against Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sanquelim in the college boys semi-finals of the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports football tournament at the Tilak Maidan ground, Vasco, on Friday.
Both teams went into the breather on level terms 1-1, but it was Fr Agnel who withstood the pressure to emerge 2-1 victors to earn a final meeting with SS Dempo College of Commerce and Economics.
The first half was played at an even pace with the midfield dictating terms and the defences refusing to buckle at either end. Government College drew first blood through Hasan Haider Khan in the 41st minute but their joy was short lived as Ganesh Thakur restored parity for Fr Agnel two minutes later, finding the back of the net with a neat finish.
The story in the second half was similar to the first with the defences on either end ruling the roost. But then tragedy struck as Government College’s stout-hearted left back Abdul Kader Aga suffered an injury and had to make way for Ramesh Gawas midway through the second half.
Fr Agnel began putting the rival defence under tremendous pressure with successive raids and eventually struck in the 88th minute through Chandan Gawas.
Government College pushed more numbers in attack but Fr. Agnel defence refused to buckle down and in fact they conjured three more scoring opportunities in the dying minutes but failed to capitalise on them.
