Team Herald
VASCO: Sai Avtar Sports Club, Anjuna defeated Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda 3-1 in penalty shootout to storm into the final of the 43rd Bandodkar Memorial football tournament in the semi-final played at MPT ground, Baina, here, on Thursday.
Sai Avtar SC began the match on an attacking note as the Don Bosco Oratory boys took their time. In the 5th minute, Rama Parsenkar of Sai Avtar SC found an opening and managed to take a shot which sailed above the goal.
In the 8th minute, a well coordinated run between Myron Dias and Rama was thwarted by the vigilant Don Bosco Oratory’s defence. A minute later, a free kick taken by Nitesh Salgaonkar deep into the box was denied by a Don Bosco Oratory goalkeeper Melcom Pereira.
Sai Avtar SC continued to keep Don Bosco Oratory on the defensive by creating inroads into their half. Don Bosco Oratory, however, were quick to pounce on a chance to counter-attack.
In the 12th minute, Minguel Barretto failed to capitalize on one such opportunity by striking the ball well above the Sai Avtar SC goal.
The 17th minute saw Don Bosco Oratory miss another opportunity to get ahead as Christopher Borges missed a straight forward chance to score, his strike was comfortably saved by the Sai Avtar SC custodian, Soma Korgaonkar, who was outstanding throughout the match.
Sai Avtar SC continued to press forward and came close to scoring in the 29th minute when a free kick taken by Jesmon Carvalho, but was saved by goalkeeper Melcom.
Don Bosco Oratory, however, had the best chance of the match in the dying minutes of the first half when Clive Miranda found himself in a position where he had only had to put the ball past the Sai Avtar SC goalkeeper, however, he took too long to take the shot and failed to convert an easy chance and surge ahead.
The first half ended goalless. Sai Avtar SC began the second half on a similar note, with their forwards creating several anxious moments in the Don Bosco Oratory defence but they were denied by timely tackles.
In 63rd minute, a scorching run by Pavan Dhargalkar of Sai Avtar SC was denied by the Don Bosco Oratory goalkeeper Melcom, who had the presence of mind to leave his line and intercept the attack.
In the 66th minute, Don Bosco Oratory had a chance to break the deadlock when a left footer from inside the box taken by Joel Camara produced yet another save by goalkeeper of Sai Avtar SC Soma.
In the last minute of regulation time, Don Bosco Oratory came close to scoring again with an attack from the left flank by substitute Craston Araujo, whose strong left footer was deflected back into play only for him to have another right footed chance, which again, was off the mark and failed.
At the final whistle the scores remained 0-0 and the match went into the tie-breaker round. Soma Korgaonkar was the star for Sai Avtar SC, producing three brilliant saves, showing off his athleticism with three well timed dives to seal the fate of the Don Bosco Oratory.
For Sai Avtar SC Rohan Kamble, Dinesh Morajkar, Jesmon Carvalho were on target while Vilas Pednekar struck at the post. For Don Bosco Oratory, Nicolau Borges shot in, while Francis Andrade, Roque Borges and Christopher Borges had their strikes saved by the Sai Avtar SC goalkeeper.
Man-of-the-Match awarded to Joel Camara of Don Bosco Oratory.
