TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Sporting Club of Davorlim shunted out Nuvem Sports Club 6-5 via the tie-breaker to emerge champions in 7th all-Goa Eslinda Alemao memorial inter-village football tournament, organized by Navelim Villagers Union, at Rosary ground, Navelim on Wednesday.
The teams were tied 1-1 at full time.
It was great joy for Sporting Club of Davorlim as they bagged the trophy for the third consecutive year.
Both the teams played attacking brand of soccer and kept the festive crowd on their toes. Nuvem broke the deadlock in the very 9th minute when Stanley Colaco slotted past the rival goalkeeper with snap shot.
Stung by that setback, Davorlim regrouped quickly and instantly took the fight to the rival camp and their efforts bore the fruit in the 27th minute when Sachin Ashtekar bulge the net to put his team on equal terms.
With the equalizer, Nuvem went into attacking mode and trouble the rival defence with well orchestrated raids but their forwards were guilty of muffing sitters from ideal position.
Post resumption, the teams adopted aggressive approach as a result there were many thrills at either end and had equal umber of scoring chances but the forwards squandered easy chances.
With the time ticking out, both went all out but match winner eluded them.
In the penalty shoot out, Milagres Figureido, Joe Gomes, Sandy Colaco, Bruno Costa and Jose Colaco were on target for Davorlim while Richard Colaco, Alrich Pereira, Neves Noronha and Mefon Coutinho converted for Nuvem.
Sporting Club of Davorlim took home cash prize of Rs 40,000 and Nuvem Sports Club had to be content with Rs 30,000.
The following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper of the final Francis Colaco (SC Davorlim), Best midfielder of the final Alrich Pereira (Nuvem SC, Best forward Joe Gomes (SCDavorlim), Best player of the final Vincent Colaco (SCDavorlim), First goal of the final Stanley Colaco (Nuvem SC), Best disciplined team Rossman Cruz Sports Club, Promising player of the tournament Avelon Gomes (Navelim Villagers Union), Best defender of the final Piedade Colaco (SC Davorlim).
Churchill Alemao, former PWD minister was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of guest of honour Fr Jose Roque Gonsalves, parish priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim; Edwin Cardozo (Cipru) ZP member, Navelim, who presided.
Churchill Alemao and Fr Jose Roque felicitated Joseph Elvino Rebello and Santana Xavier Coutinho, senior members of Navelim Villagers Union. In all, 16 teams participated.
