Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Veteran striker Rosario Mithun Carvalho’s header helped Cuncolim Union beat United Club of Palolem 1-0 and enter the final of South Goa Mc Dowells’ No 1 Yaari Premiere Cup inter-village football tournament, organised by Cuncolim Union, at Government Village School ground, Cuncolim on Monday
Palolem made a cautious start as they failed to get the rhythm and Cuncolim Union did well to close down the Palolem attackers in the initial period of the game.
Egged by the home crowd, Cuncolim Union slowly probed and nimbled away at the Palolem defence and struck the match winner in the 27th minute when striker Nilesh Velip floated the ball to striker Rosario Carvalho who headed the ball home much to the applause of Cuncolim supporters.
Stung the revesal, Palolem responded with a series of raids. Playmaker Terence Lobo who marshalled the waistline with aplomb, came close in levelling the score but Cuncolim Union goalkeeper Sohail Shaik came to his side rescue by fisting away for an abortive flag kick.
At the other hand, Cuncolim Union came close in increasing their tally when striker Rosario Carvalho lifted the ball above the rival goalkeeper, however, Nilesh shot wide from close range.
When the play resummed, the momentum was clearly with United Club of Paloelm with their forwards displayed characteristic and Terence Lobo kept spraying passes while falling back to retrive before venturing on another encounter.
Thereafter they conjured scoring chances but first Cuncolim goalkeeper Sohail Shaikh came to his side rescue by blocking Schalice Cardozo’s stiff shot and later Caitano Cardozo’s try was tacked by rival defender.
Cuncolim in better light with better ball possesion but Nilesh Velip blew away a golden oportunity to swell the lead.
With time running out, Palolem did make some concerted efforts to break the rival defence with Cuncolim Union eventually trooped home with narrow 1-0 winners . Rosario Carvalho who played with tenacity was adjudged man of the match.
At Amjuma ground in the North Goa clash, St Anthony’s Sports Club, Marna- Siolim did what was in their hands in a perfect manner .They achieved it by drubbing Adarsh Yuvak Sangh 4-0 to march into the final.
St Anthony’s Sports Club dominated the game however it was Adarsh Yuvak Sangh who sounded the warning when Michael Dias well executed free kick was saved by rival goalkeeper.
St Anthony’s broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Sahil Pomburpekar connected in style Joel Fernandes through pass giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper.
Down by a goal, Adarsh Yuvak Sangh came close in levelling the score but rival goalkeeper came to his side rescue by foiling rival attackers.
Later in the first half, Pushparaj saw his shot saved and Joel Fernandes long range shot sailed over the bar.
At the end of first half, St Anthony Marna doubled their lead through Gaurav off Saiesh’s assist.
Post resumption, St Anthony Marna continued to dictate terms and pushed their opponents on the back foot and inflated their tally through the boots of Videsh Goltekar.
St Anthony Marna drove the last nail when Joel Fernandes dribbled past host of defenders and punted the ball to the far corner of the net.
