Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
RAIA: St Sebastian, Marna-Siolim, emerged champions in the Coppa Goa 2025 all-Goa football tournament following a tense tie-breaker win against FC Curtorim in the grand final played in the United Arab Emirates, recently.
The tournament saw participation from 12 top teams from across the UAE -- FC Curtorim, Vanxim Divar, Vasco FC Abu Dhabi, Panth Boys Aldona, St Sebastian Marna-Siolim, Verna FC, OLM Sirlim SC, Salcete Boys FC, Friends Vaddem, Dubai Goans, Nagao Unidos FC and Emirates Navelim.
The tournament was played in league-cum-knockout format. In the first semi-final, St Sebastian edged out OLM Sirlim SC with a narrow 1-0 win. In the second semi-final, FC Curtorim overcame Dubai Goans 5-4 in a thrilling penalty shootout.
In the plate cup final, Emirates Navelim pipped Verna FC 1-0. Meanwhile, in the hard-line match for the third place, Dubai Goans lost to OLM Sirlim SC 4-5 on penalties. The final featured an intense contest between St Sebastian and FC Curtorim. Both sides played an attacking football and fought hard until the final whistle, with neither able to break the deadlock in the regular time. The match went to a tie-breaker, where St Sebastian held their nerve to clinch the championship.