RAIA: Rodrigues Youth scored a hard-fought victory over their arch rivals Bandoi Boys 3-2 to win the final of 2nd Santano and Silvio Mendes Memorial Rolling Trophy Soccer 2023 organised by Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim at Fr Druston and Wellington ground, Cavelossim, recently.
In a balanced encounter, both the teams had a fair share of opportunities to score but the rival keepers held the upper hand. It was a chance pass by Johan to Anand Souza in the midfield whose first time shot beat Bandoi keeper Amogi to draw first blood for Rodrigues Youth.
Anand could have made 2-0 but a sliding tackle by Asher in the box denied him a goal. Just before lemon time, Asher took a power-packed dipping free-kick, deep inside his own half which beat Samuel in the Rodrigues Youth goal to level the score 1-1.
Crossing over, Bandoi Boys asserted their superiority when in a goal mouth-melee, veteran Charles seized the ball and fired from tight angle to lead Bandoi Boys 2-1, to the cheers of their supporters. But hardly had cheers died down when in Mevan Gracias shot a sharp cross from the right flank which was acrobatically head in by Blayne Rodrigues into the top corner of Bandoi Boys goal to make the score 2-2.
With the regulation time nearing end, Rodrigues Youth were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of penalty area. Mevan who took the kick passed the ball to Anand on the right whose first time shot rebounded from Devin Barreto and landed near Jonas Fernandes, who made no mistake to put Rodrigues Youth 3-1 to win and engrave their team’s name on Santano and Silvio Mendes memorial rolling trophy.
Solomon Mendes, Dionizio Dias, Fr Ubaldo Fernandes, Fr Saude Pereira and Dixon Vaz were the dignitaries present.
