MAPUSA: Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Geno FC to book their place into the final of the Goa Police Football Cup organised by Goa Police Sports Cell in association with Goa Football Association at Duler Stadium, here, on Thursday.
Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC came strongly in Thursday’s semi-final where Vikram Venkatchalam header was paired for a corner by Geno custodian Jeet Gupta and minutes later Ronil Azavedo stiff grounder travelled just past the goal post.
Finally, in the 14th minute, Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC skipper Clive Miranda leapt high above the Geno defenders to connect his strong header off a corner by Denil Rebello into the far corner of the goal 1-0.
Geno FC colts did come with some fine built up moves securing four corners in the first session but Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC’s defence held to their one goal lead till the breather.
Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC almost scored their second goal but Velroy Carvalho’s header zoomed inches over the crossbar.
On crossing ends, Geno FC colts were all over the rival citadel but the equaliser eluded them till the final hooter.
In the 75th minute, a stinging 30-yard right-footer by substitute Krishna Gawas was superbly paired for a corner by Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC’s goalkeeper Francis Vincent.
In the last quarter of the match, two more strikes by Geno FC’s Chaitan Komarpant and Krishna Gawas free-kick missed the target narrowly.
Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare SC’s skipper Clive Miranda received the man-of-the-match award from PI Vishwajeet Chodankar in the presence of Shivram Vaingankar, DySP.
