TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Social Cultural Club of Loutolim came from behind to defeat Varca Sports Club 7-5 via the tie-breaker to storm into the semi-finals of Salcete Zone GFA’s 3rd Division League play-off, at DYSA ground, Curtorim, Saturday.
Varca Sports Club led 2-0 at the breather.
Varca started the game on a promising note and kept their opponents on the back foot especially in the opening session. They broke the deadlock in the very 9th minute when Carmo Rebello bulge the net.
With the early success, Varca intensified their attacks and doubled the lead in the 17th minute when former Churchill Brothers striker Elvis Fernandes punted the ball to the far corner of the net after outwitting couple of rival defenders.
At the other hand, Social Cultural Club of Loutolim were subdued lot and failed to function as cohesive unit and hardly trouble the rival goalkeeper.
Post resumption, Social Cultural Club of Loutolim exhibited better play and were searching for goals. After couple of misses, they got their scoring act together and reduced the deficit in the 65th minute when striker Jeslon Fernandes slotted past the rival goalkeeper with snap shot.
The equalizer boosted the morale of Loutolim players and raided the rival goal time and again. Their efforts bore the fruit in the 81st minute when Jeslon restored parity and completed his brace.
In the ensuing tiebreaker, Zico Rodrigues, Edzel Fernandes, Hilario Fernandes, Frazel Cardozo and Osvil Dias were on target for Social Cultural Club of Loutolim while Elvis Fernandes, Columban Noronha and Selmon Fernandes scored for Varca Sports Club.
At Cansualim Sports Complex, Panchwadi United Sports Club breezed past Sao Jose de de Areal Sports Club 5-4 via the tie-breaker to enter the semi-finals after both the teams were tied 2-2 at full time.
Panchwadi started the game on whirlwind fashion and took the lead in the very 4th minute when striker Paxton Gomes beat the rival goalkeeper with neat finish. Down by 0-1, Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club upped the ante and neutralized the lead in the 16th minute when Francis Baretto put them on level terms.
Crossing over, the teams adopted aggressive approach and kept the crowd on their toes. The ball swung from one end to other. Panchwadi’s striker Glen Colaco put his team in front in the 61st minute. However, their joy was short-lived when Rodney Fernandes equalized for Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club in the 68th minute.
With the regulation time ending in a 1-1 draw, tie-breaker was resorted and Panchawadi emerged winners. In the penalty shoot out, Bersel Viegas, Glen Colaco and Clen D’Costa converted for Panchwadi while Agio Antao and Romeo Moura were successful for Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club.
In the Ilhas Zone, Portais Sporting Club won their third consecutive match humbling Ponda Footballers 6-4 at Santo Estevam ground.
Mansoor Khan scored hat-trick while Shekhar Deepi, Dean D’Mello and Derryl D’Souza scored a goal a piece for Portais Sporting Club. Peter Fernandes scored a brace Chetan Naik and Nikhil Goankar scored one each for Ponda Footballers.
Madhu Mandrekar and Suraj Adkonkar played well in the defence while Pratap Sawant and Savio Pereira excelled in midfield for Portais to top the pool with 10 points from four games.
