TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Nerul Sports Club came from behind to edge past Sai Avtar, Anjuna 2-1 to book their berth in the finals of Calangute Panchayat Cup football at Poriat ground, Calangute, Thursday. Sai Avtar led 1-0 at the breather.
The teams started attackingly and Nerul created the first chance in the eighth minute after midfielder Royston sent a clever through ball to Mukund, whose rasping shot missed the mark narrowly with Sai Avtar goalkeeper Francisco taken by surprise.
At the other end, Sai Avtar were building up some dangerous moves and they surged ahead in the 14th minute as Sameer slotted past Nerul goalkeeper Xavier with a deft placement off a pass from Sheker.
Then onwards, Nerul tried hard to get back into the game but their strikers lacked sharpness upfront.
Post resumption, Nerul started with a renewed sense of purpose and levelled the scores through a set piece in the 45th minute after Julius beautifully curled past the six-man wall beating the rival custodian hands down.
Spurred by the equalizer, Nerul scored their second goal, three minutes later, after Deepraj leapt over the rival defence and powerfully headed in past the rival custodian off a well-measured cross from the right flank from Sidharth.
In the final quarter, Sai Avtar went all-out but their attacks were restrained by the strong Nerul defence.
With five minutes to go for the final whistle, Nerul could have scored their third goal but Dyaneshwar’s effort kissed the crossbar.
