MARGAO: Margao Sports Club rallied to oust hosts St Sebastian Union Benaulim and enter the semi-finals of 3rd Cana Benaulim Panchayat Cup Soccer tournament organized by St Sebastian Benaulim at St John Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim, Wednesday. The score was 1-1 at the breather.
The match began at a slow pace but gradually the momentum increased when the St Sebastian midfield consisting of Steven Baptista, Xamaro Rodrigues and Jerson Fernandes combined well with the strikers Rody Chikoto and Nelly Fernandes, resulting in the St Sebastian citadel being raided umpteen times. The hosts went ahead in the 17th minute through Xamaro Rodrigues who picked up a pass from left back Paulwin Silva on the edge of the box and fired a right footer which went past Soccoro Azavedo under the Margao goal.
Undeterred by the goal Margao came back strongly with Ashley Araujo and Danny Dias finding gaps in the rivals defence. Striker Minguel Baretto who was a threat to the Benaulim defense restored parity in the 24th minute off a pass from Francis Andrade.
After resumption, the ball was mostly confined in the middle.
As the match was heading towards the tie breaker Margao stunned the home crowd with medio Danny Dias latching on to a through pass by right back Savio Faleiro to strike an angular drive from just outside the box which went past a diving St Sebastian keeper Jerson Pereira with five minutes remaining for the final whistle.
St Sebastian went all-out to get the equalizer but rival goalkeeper Soccoro Azavedo pulled off a superb save to deny Paulwin Silva.
