RAIA: In a thrilling encounter of the 26th Holy Cross inter-village football tournament held at Vodlemoll ground, Kakoda, on Thursday, St Anthony SC, Marna-Siolim, scored a hard-fought 1-0 win over Navelim Sporting to move into the semi-finals.
The first half witnessed both teams displaying attacking prowess, with numerous attempts to break the deadlock thwarted by resilient defences. Navelim Sporting came close to scoring with a powerful long shot narrowly missing the crossbar. However, the second half saw Navelim Sporting dominating the proceedings, creating several promising opportunities that were ultimately denied. A pivotal moment came when a Navelim Sporting striker beat the goalkeeper but was heroically cleared off the line by a St Anthony SC defender.
With minutes remaining, St Anthony SC seized the initiative, as Pushparaj capitalised on a brilliant through pass from the winger to slot the ball past three defenders and the goalkeeper, securing win for his team with a 1-0 lead at full time.
The match showcased exceptional skill and determination from both sides, with St Anthony SC emerging triumphant in a closely contested battle.
