Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
RAIA: In the first quarter-final of 1st All Goa Inter Village Mansion House Football Cup 2025, FC Siolim defeated Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club 8-7 on penalties to move into the semi-finals after the game ended in a 1-1 draw, at Cuncolim ground, on Friday.
San Jose de Areal SC started strong and their pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Denyl Costa scored from a rebound after Anyan Carvalho’s shot was blocked. FC Siolim quickly responded. In the 28th minute, Pushparaj Mandrekar scored with a clever finish to level the score at 1-1.
The second half was marked by close chances and strong defence. Denyl San of Jose de Areal SC had two more near misses, but FC Siolim’s goalkeeper Prajot Fadte, made a brilliant save to deny one of his shots.
FC Siolim also had a great opportunity, but the San Jose de Areal SC defenders, including Nevil Fernandes, scrambled to block multiple shots and clear the ball off the line.
The match went to a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 deadlock at full time.
Both teams were clinical in the shoot-out, which became a long tense affair. Sao Jose de Areal SC’s Bensal Viegas, Denyl Costa, Anyan Carvalho, Nevil Fernandes, Mommad Mansoor, Myron Silva and John Gomendes all converted their penalties, while FC Siolim Pushparaj Mandrekar, Gaurav Vaigankar, Prajot Fadte, Preston Dias, Dalesh Pednekar, Joel Fernandes, Manthan Jivaji and finally Vipul Pednekar, who scored the winning penalty, all successfully converted their spot-kicks.