Team Herald
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DANDO-BENAULIM: Maina Sports Club, Curtorim recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Varca Sports Club to enter the semi-finals of 11th Cana-Benaulim Panchayat Cup organised by United Club of Benaulim, at St John the Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim, on Saturday.
Maina was the better side in the initial stages with striker Milagres Ferandes coming close to open the account in the 12th minute. Varca were content in defending with Macklin Mascarenhas who played a stellar role in the rear guard.
After resumption, Maina got the breakthrough under lucky circumstances in the 45th minute when medio Fraxier Castanaha sent in a long ball pass to Milagres Fernndes who controlled the ball well and struck a low grounder and as the Varca goalkeeper Mohd Shaikh who was in a correct position to make the save the ball suddenly took an awkward bounce and looped into the nylons.
Varca almost got the equaliser straight away but Joylan Cardozo’s right footer banged the upright and went out in the 49th minute. Varca tried hard to get back on level terms however Maina got the second goal two minutes before the full-time when Milagres Fernandes sprinted down the right flank and unselfishly assisted substitute Eliston Fernandes to tap the ball into the goal.
