Team Herald
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RAIA: Shiroda Youth Club edged past St Rock YSC, Majorda, 3-2 to move into the next round of 1st All Goa inter-village football Mansion House Cup 2025 played at the Cuncolim ground, on Sunday.
The deadlock was broken in the 10th minute when Chetan Gaude rose highest to head home from a corner, giving Shiroda YC a 1-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, Royston Vaz almost doubled the advantage with a solo effort, but the St Rock YSC goalkeeper smothered the danger. Shiroida YC continued to press, with Da Costa and Sanchelo Fernandes keeping the defence on its toes.
A surging run by Ravindra Gaude in the 18th minute, nearly caused havoc before St Rock YSC cleared their lines. The pressure paid off in the 25th minute, when Royston Vaz fired in Shiroda YC’s second, sending them into the break with a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
St Rock YSC, however, stormed back into the contest after halftime. In the 43rd minute, Ashley Rodrigues produced a moment of brilliance, dribbling past three defenders and the goalkeeper to slot home. Barely three minutes later, Rodrigues struck again, this time with a clinical finish to level the scores at 2–2, sparking wild celebrations among the St Rock YSC supporters.
The decisive moment arrived in the 58th minute, when Ravindra unleashed a thunderous strike to restore Shiroda YC’s lead at 3-2. St Rock YSC threw everything forward in the closing stages, with Filbert Pereira (59’) and Dylan Godhino (68’) both going close. But Shiroda YC’s defence held firm to secure a hard-fought victory.
Earlier, Curtorim Gymkhana defeated Navelim Villagers Union via a tense penalty shoot-out 5-4 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time to move into next round.
Curtorim Gymkhana started brightly, pressing high from the opening whistle. The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute, when Ryan Fernandes latched onto a pass and finished calmly to put Curtorim Gymkhana ahead 1-0 at the breather.
Navelim Villagers Union, sluggish in the first half, returned stronger after the restart. Sherlock Dias tried his luck from midfield but missed narrowly. The equaliser finally came in the 64th minute, courtesy of a stunning solo effort from Selvin Gomes, who dribbled past three defenders before firing home to make it 1-1.
In the penalties, Curtorim Gymkhana held their nerve, as James Fernandes, Fredy Hilario, Joy Hilario and Rhay Dias converted from the spot. For Navelim Villagers Union only Ronaldo Pereira and Noah Luis found the net.