PANJIM: Sporting Clube de Goa came from behind to break Salgaocar Football Club’s unbeaten run and qualify for the final after winning 2-1 in GFA’s Knock Out Cup semi-final, at Cuncolim ground, on Saturday.
Salgaocar led 1-0 at the interval. Salgaocar came close to scoring when Daryl Duffy chipped the ball at goal, only to be denied by the post.
Seven minutes before the breather, Salgaocar found the breakthrough when a cross was swung in from the left side, which Daryl connected to at the back post with a bullet header to give his side the lead.
After resumption, Sporting Clube was a revitalized team. It took only three minutes to draw level when Kofi Dankwae rose highest to nod home Cajetan Fernandes’ corner to score on his debut.
Ten minutes from time, Sporting Clube found the winner when substitute Victorino Fernandes volleyed a Beevan D’Mello corner into the back of the net.
At Duler Stadium, Mapusa, Churchill Brothers edged past Tuff Laxmi Prasad Sports Club 6-5 via the tie-breaker to also make it into the final.
The teams were locked 1-1 at full time. Mackroy Pexeito gave Tuff Laxmi the lead at the half hour mark.
However, Churchill Bros equalized in the second half with 12 minutes to go for the final whistle after Nicholas Fernandes capitalized on a lapse in the Tuff Laxmi defense and scored, 1-1.
In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Sunday Chizoba, Richard Costa, Kamaldeep Singh, Micky Fernandes and Mainoo Danavoor scored for The Red Machines while Andy Opara, Marcus Mascarenhas, Pedro Gonsalves and Sangam Pednekar converted for Tuff Laxmi with Chika Wali’s effort being blocked by Churchill custodian Praveen.
