Team Herald
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MARGAO: Perpetual Succour Convent HS, Navelim pipped Loyola HS, Margao 4-3 in an enthralling encounter in the 2nd Chowgule Sports Centre U-10 Futsal league organised by Youth Futsal Academy, at Chowgule Sports Centre, Margao, on Friday.
Kiam Pinto stunned Perpetual in the very first minute with a thunderous left foot half volley.
Perpetual equalised and took the lead through Sherlock Dias who scored in the span of three minutes to stun the vociferous Loyola HS supporters. Kiam Pinto brought his team back on level terms just before the break as he converted from the spot.
Perpetual then took the lead through Vernon Cardozo early in the second half. It was an end-to-end match as both teams created good scoring opportunities but the keepers were on hand to deny the strikers of both the teams. Loyola’s stand out performer on the day Lester Oliveira brought the crowd to their feet as he dribbled past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball neatly past the on rushing keeper Jaden Fernandes levelling the scores at 3-3.
As the game looked to be heading into a penalty shoot-out to decide the first finalist, Sherlock Dias had other ideas and on receiving the ball on the touchline he dribbled inside and held off the Loyola defenders before pulling the trigger as his effort found its way past a couple of defenders and an unsighted goalkeeper to take Perpetual Succour Convent HS to the final.
Marina Engish HS, Verna booked their place in the final with a hard fought 3-2 win over host YFA Warriors.
The first real opportunity fell to Warriors’ Samuel D’Souza who was denied brilliantly by the keeper Veagan Colado in a one-to-one situation.
The second half started off typically as the first half but the game came to life when Samuel D’Souza dribbled past two down the line before setting up Warren Rodrigues who tapped in from close range to give YFA the lead much to the delight of the huge fan base of the Warriors.
Marina pressed hard thereafter to find the equaliser but some brave defending by Lochlan Sousa and Vardaan Pathania and a couple of good save by Isaac kept Warriors in the lead.
Warriors could have doubled their lead as they missed two gilt edged opportunities midway through the half and Marina’s persistence paid as they finally found the equaliser through Addison Fernandes.
Two quick goals in similar fashion shortly after that through Rizbeen D’Costa and Addison Fernandes put Marina in the driver’s seat. Samuel D’Souza then scored a late goal after being set up by Lochlan Sousa, but it was a little too late for the Warriors as the final whistle was sounded soon after.
Loyola HS Margao will now meet YFA Warriors in the 3rd/4th place playoff at 8.30 a.m. while Perpetual Succour Convent HS will lock horns with Marina English HS Verna at 9.45 a.m. on October 20.
