MARGAO: Max Veterans, Colva prevailed over Curtorim Veterans 4-2 via the tie-breaker to win the 1st All Goa Joao Manuel and Joseph Fernandes memorial veteran football tournament organized by Sun Moon Stars Veterans, Chandor, at church ground, Chandor on Saturday.
There was no score at full time. Both the teams displayed attacking brand of soccer despite retired from active football and kept the crowd on their toes with entertaining performance.
Max Veterans served by former international and national players in their ranks held slight edge over their less fancied Curtorim Veterans in both the sessions. They had couple of scoring opportunities but their forwards misfired from hand shaking distance.
Curtorim Veterans did not lag behind and slowly trouble the rival defence with well orchestrated raids.
The second session continued in same vein with the teams desperately searching for the match winner but failed to get the desired result. Both had equal number of chances but their forwards wasted from ideal positions.
In the penalty shoot out, Alfred Fernandes, Xavier Colaco, Shaikh Abbo and Willy Moraes were on target for Max Veterans while Joaquim Fernandes and Seby Vaz converted for Curtorim Veterans.
Max were richer by Rs 55,555 while Curtorim Veterans had to settle for Rs 44,444.
Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of guests of honour MLAs Nilesh Cabral, Chandrakant Babu Kavelkar, Benjamin D’Silva and special invitees Fr Saude Pereira, parish priest of Chandor church; Fr Domnic Noronha, parish priest of Paroda church; Fr Natalino Fernandes, assistant parish priest of Paroda church; Seema Dias, Zilla member, Gurdolim Constituency and Cleofasio Dias, ex-chairperson South Goa Zilla Panchayat.
Piety Fernandes welcomed while Leslie Rodrigues proposed a vote of thanks.
