CALANGUTE, MAY 21
United Club of Nerul defeated Candolim Sports Club 2-0 to enter the finals of Novino Lakhanpal Gold Cup inter-village football tournament at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium on Friday. Nerul led 1-0 at half time.
The teams began the match on a promising note but it was Nerul who took an early lead in the 5th minute through Michael Monteiro who headed home an Alex corner. Siden Monteiro could have doubled the lead for Nerul but Candolim goalkeeper David Rebello brought out a brilliant save. Wenseslav Rebello could have levelled the score for Candolim but the ever agile Nerul custodian Hensen D’Sa was equal to his task, saving a bicycle kick off Wenseslav.
Changing over, Candolim kept mounting pressure on Nerul defence but Roy Das missed the mark narrowly in the 35th minute. Candolim could have been on level terms with Nerul but a Joelit try hit the goalpost and rebounded into play. With time running out for Candolim, Nerul doubled the lead through Xavier Clemente off a defensive lapse.
