Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Legends ‘Blue’ managed to hold Legends ‘Orange’ to a 12-12 draw in the legends match organised by Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore in collaboration with Goa Football Association and the Association for the Wellbeing of Elderly Sportsperson, at Duler stadium under floodlights, on Saturday.
In a well contested match the teams were locked in a 2-2 draw.
It was Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore that brought together Football Icons of yesteryears for the legends match where thirty six players of the biggest Goan footballing legends featured. Legends ‘Orange” was captained by Arjuna Awardee winner and former AIFF player-of-the-year (1996) Bruno Coutinho, while for Goa Legends ‘Blue’ current Technical Director of FC Goa and AFC ‘A’ Pro License coach Derrick Pereira captained the side.
After some midfield play, it was in the 18th minute Legends ‘Blue’ substitute Vishant Pednekar sent in a dipping shot from almost 35-yards which entered the goal leaving keeper Jude Fernandes dazzle..
In the very next minute, Legends ‘Orange’ equalised where an acute angel cross by Pascoal Pereira saw keeper stretch himself to pair the ball which took a deflection off stopper back Xavier Colaco to find the ball roll into the goal.
In the 25th minute, Legends ‘Blue’ almost netted in their second goal but keeper Jude Fernandes flung to his right to push the header of substitute Santan Furtado for a corner from inside the 6-yard box.
Just six minutes into the second session, Legends ‘Orange’ further extended their lead where a free-kick from Alex Alvares was nodded by Clifford Miranda inside the goal beating substitute keeper Oswald D’Costa to make it 2-1.
Legends ‘Blue’ came close to level terms but Samir Naik came twice with timely clearances to deny Santan Furtado and Marcus Carvalho from scoring.
Finally in the 57th minute, Micky Fernandes scored the equaliser for Legends ‘Blue’ with a brilliant solo effort to make it 2-2.
With the match ending in a 2-2 draw, the winners were to be decided via penalty shoot-out which ended in a 4-4 draw, the sudden death also ended in a 6-6 draw, where the teams were finally declared joint winners.
Trophies were handed to both the team captains by the dignitaries present. Joseph Coelho-C.O.O, Nicholas Pereira- former International, Lavino Rebello-GFA’s Vice-President, GFA’s executive members Babli Mandrekar, Domnic Pereira, Gregory D’Souza, Sukhvinder Singh-CEO, Sesa Football Project, Leena Verenkar-Head of Corporate Affairs, Vedanta graced the event.
