RAIA: Curtorim Gymkhana beat Varca Sports Club 2-0 to enter the quarter-finals of Jaju Memorial Trophy football tournament at St. John de Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim.
Striker Joy Hilario in the first session and medio Joywin Carneiro in the second half netted for the winners.
Curtorim made a bright start with strikers Joy combining well with playmaker Joywin. Curtorim finally went ahead when winger Milagres Fernandes got past rival defender Columban Noronha and sent in a fine cross for Joy to nod in past Mohammed Shaikh in the Varca goal in the 19th minute.
Varca gathered themselves up with Jobern Cardozo and Allan Frnandes setting up passes upfront for the strikers. Varca almost got the equalizer but Aaron Baretto’s right footer was deflected over by Curtorim goalkeeper Johnson Bhogot. Subsequently, Johnson made another save to deny Yunal Fernandes with a one-handed save.
Curtorim had to thank their goalkeeper Johnson to protect their slender lead after the restart as Aaron’s right footer was pushed out for a corner by the lanky goalkeeper. Varca in their effort to get the equaliser pushed more players forward but Curtorim defenders Mario Mascarenhas and Vicky Cardozo stood their ground and defended the goal.
Curtorim made the issue safe when Joywin Carneiro sent a through pass to Milagres who ran past the entire Varca defenders as well as goalkeeper Mohammed Shaikh to blast in the open net to score a superb goal.
