Team Herald
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VERNA: Fatorda Veterans came from behind to edged past Joe Cookies Veterans 3-2 in the final and emerge champions in the first All-Goa 8-a-side Veterans Football Tournament organised by former footballers of Verna at Verna panchayat ground, recently.
Joe Cookies Veterans started the match on an attacking pace and scored the first goal with the efforts of their star striker Joe Rose Oliveira who chip the ball from the on rushing goalkeeper to give the lead to his team. However, Fatorda Veterans’ never give up attitude and attacking moves kept the pressure on the rival team and scored the equaliser through the highest scorer of the tournament Francisco Andrade.
At half time, both teams settled for a 1-1 draw.
Post resumption, Fatorda Veterans half kept on pushing the Joe Cookies Veterans defence on the back foot and netted two quick goals through Francisco and Francis D’Souza. Joe Cookies Veterans pushed their players upfront and scored the second goal through Pascaol Fernandes in the dying minutes of the match.
Francisco Andrade was named player of the final for his outstanding performance. Earlier, in the exhibition match Goa Priests beat Former Footballers of Verna 4-3 to take the winners award.
Chief guest social worker of Verna Lyndon Monteiro, guests of honour Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, special invitees former international player Jose D’Souza, former MPT and State player Socraties Carvalho, former international player Norbert Gonsalves, former MPT and State Player Agnelo Foncesa, Club de Salgaoncar Technical Director Peter Vales were present for the final.
Former footballers of Verna felicitated Jose D’Souza and Norbert Gonsalves for their outstanding contribution in football.
Fatorda Veterans are champions
