MARGAO: St Anthony’s Sports Club, Colva defeated St Rock’s Youth Club, Calata–Majorda 2-0 to march into the quarter-finals of South Goa Mcdowell’s No. 1 Yarri Premier Cup inter-village football tournament organized by Cuncolim Union, at government school play ground, Cuncolim, on Tuesday.
The match was held on to a 0-0 score line as either of the team couldn’t find the net to break the deadlock.
Both the teams adopted attacking flair and kept the crowds on their toes. As the match progressed, St Anthony’s Sports Club tried to break the deadlock and midway in the opening session striker Joseph Pereira who was in thick action unleashed a snap shot however Majorda goalkeeper Mohammed Sadiq rose on the occasion to deny him the goal.
At the other hand, St Rock’s YC did not lag behind as they fired couple of strikes at the rival goal; Rennedios Barretto’s stiff shot miss the target narrowly, at the end of the first half.
Crossing over, St Anthony’s SC had developed a distinct pattern in their play which allowed them to take the opponents by storm with counter attacks at a breathtaking pace.
Joseph Pereira and David Costa entered the rival box threatening to pull the trigger.
St Anthony SC’s breakthrough came in the 39th minute through spot kick, as striker Joseph Pereira’s shot was handle by rival defender Nelton Miranda inside the penalty box and Maxon Fernandes made no mistake in sending the rival goalkeeper in wrong way in the resultant spot kick.
The goal spurred St Anthony SC’s lads to mount tremendous pressure on the rival goal and in the 65th minute, Joseph Pereira scored the goal off the pass from John Fernandes to give his team 2-0 cushion.
Down by 0-2, St Rock’s YC pressed hard and spurn the golden chance late in the second half when Colva defender brought down rival striker Michael D’souza inside the D-area, the resultant spot kick taken by Rolland Fernandes hit the post much to the dismay of St. Rock YC’s supporters.
St Anthony SC had couple of scoring chances but their forwards misfired from close range. Joseph Pereira of St Anthony’s SC, Colva who played a stellar role for his team was adjudged man-of-the-match.
