DAVORLIM: Parish Youth Nuvem got the better of Sporting Club of Davorlim with a solitary goal win to enter the final of the 12th Davorlim Cup All-Goa Football tournament, organized by SC Davorlim, at Davorlim Panchayat ground, on Tuesday.
There was no score in the first session of the match.
The match began on an even footing with the two giants of Salcete. Parish Youth Nuvem has already won six tournaments while Sporting Club of Davorlim were looking to clinch their second title.
The teams went on all out to establish their supremacy but the stubborn defence left either strikers frustrated.
With the vociferous crowd behind them, Sporting Club of Davorlim played good short passes in the midfield and enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession.
They stretched their opponents as Sporting Club of Davorlim’s Meclon Colaco sent in a through ball inside the 18-yard box for Standly Miranda but the striker saw his rasping effort parried away by stretching goalkeeper, Francis Fernandes in the very third minute.
Soon, in the next minute, Sporting Club of Davorlim had another go from a set piece but Standly’s free-kick did not bear fruit and was easily saved by the rival goalkeeper.
Sporting Club Davorlim players were high on motivation and continued to attack as Selwyn Miranda floated a perfect ball to Paxton Gomes, whose dangerous move was timely tackled by Shubert Colaco in the defence of Parish Youth Nuvem.
At the other end, Parish Youth Nuvem slowly started to get into a rhythm and striker Jerose Oliveira managed to provide Inacio Colaco with an accurate ball.
Inacio displayed good skill as he dribbled both, Andrew Colaco and Standly but eventually was left frustrated as keeper Rusfon Miranda blocked the threat.
Just before the break, Sporting Club of Davorlim came close to scoring when Meclon Colaco was in a perfect position but unfortunately his promising header hit the goalpost of Parish Youth Nuvem and the ball went out of play.
Crossing over, the trend continued as the teams went head-to-head. In the 37th minute, Sporting Club of Davorlim should have broken the deadlock but lanky Meclon’s header missed the target, much to the dismay of the supporters.
At the other end, Parish Youth Nuvem adopted an aggressive approach as Jerose and substitute Remmy Colaco kept the rival defence on their toes with their pace.
Finally, it was Remmy who broke the deadlock in the 49th minute through a stunning free-kick which left the rival custodian stunned.
Remmy’s strike proved to be the all-important goal to put Parish Youth Nuvem into the final which is scheduled on April 3.
They will take on the winners of the second semi-finals between Chandor SC and Navelim SC to be played on March 23.
