SIRLIM: Navelim Villagers Union defeated CRC Chinchinim 11-10 via the penalty shoot-out to win the 23rd Our Lady of Merces eight-a-side soccer title organised by Sirlim Sports Club and played at Our Lady of Hope Church ground Chinchinim recently.
Anil broke the deadlock by scoring the first goal with a neat placement that gave no chance to Sunny in 25th minute. However, Chadel levelled the score for Chinchinim with a neat placement soon after.
In the 33rd minute, Shario of Chinchinim was flashed yellow for rough play. Sunny was brilliant under the Chinchinim Both teams were locked in a 1-1 draw at halftime.
On resumption, Jayson Coutinho was shown the yellow card after Anil was fouled in 48th in the penalty area but Clinton Niasso’s spot kick was acrobatically saved by keeper Sunny of Chinchinim.
In the 52th minute Franky Olivera’s powerful right footer found the back of the net making it 2-1 for Chinchinim.
Chinchinim’s Nigel was brought down by Anil in the penalty area in the 60th minute. Franky Olivera made no mistake as he scored his second from the spot to increase the margin to 3-1.
Navelim fought back valiantly and managed to decrease the margin in the 62nd minute through Myron to make it 3-2. Navelim tightened the pressure in the dying minutes as Ronaldo brought parity upsetting Chinchinim’s apple-cart.
The final was decided in the penalty shoot-out. Clinton, Anil, Suraj, Anil S, Nevin, Jayson, Valentino, Selvin, Prestly found the mark for Navelim, while for CRC Chinchinim only Janio, Franky, Kidron, Myron, Ryan, Shario and Sunny found their target. Chadel’s both shots were saved in a brilliant display by the Navelim keeper Selvin Gomes who was later adjudged the man of the final.
The winners were awarded prize money of Rs 50,000 and a trophy while the runners-up received Rs 40,000 and a trophy.
The prizes were awarded by Chief Guest Maymol Rocky (former Head Coach of Indian Women Football National Team), Guest of Honour Fr Alex D’ Souza (Parish Priest Chinchinim) and Engineer Cruz Silva (MLA Velim Constituency) and other dignitaries.
