TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: A successful last minute penalty conversion from Jonathan Cardoza ensured Sporting Clube de Goa finished at the top after edging out Portais Sporting Club 2-1 in GFA’s U-14 league at Don Bosco ground, Panjim,Thursday. The match was tied 1-1 at the lemon break.
Sporting were ahead after just 53 seconds when Keenan Dias deftly used only two touches to bury it past the Portais custodian. Within two minutes, Portais found themselves level after Salu Santos confidently curled a free kick into the back of the net.
It was Sporting who showed more urgency after the break, but could not penetrate the opposition’s defense.
In the very last minute, Sporting won a penalty after Portais defender Chetan Vernaikar handled the ball in mid-air. Portais changed their goalkeeper Raunak Vainankar with a field player Neves Xaiver, but that made no difference as Jonathan coolly slotted the ball home.
Sporting topped the group with 22 points from eight matches, followed by Portais with 19. Fr Agnelo Youth Centre, Pilar finished third on 10, Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim on 7 and Santo Esetvam Sports Club were last after failing to pick up a single point.
