Team Herald
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HYDERABAD: Goa tasted victory against Tamil Nadu for the first time in the Final Round of 78th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy, at the Deccan Arena, here, on Thursday.
It took a well-placed strike from substitute Ronaldo Oliveira after some brilliant build-up by fellow substitutes Nigel Fernandes and Clencio Pinto to break the Tamil Nadu defence in the 92nd minute.
The first 90 minutes saw end-to-end action where both sides came close a number of times. Sarineo Fernandes, in particular, was lively for Goa as he lobbed inches wide of the target before finding the net in the second half only to be flagged offside.
For Tamil Nadu, Devadath S struck a solid half-volley which was met by a good save from Sanij Bugde. Nandha Kumar Ananthraj and skipper Alexander Romario Jesuraj headed wide after being left unmarked in the box.
Finally, Goa took their chance in added time. Pinto got on the end of a long ball from Nigel, and smartly controlled the ball and laid it off for an unmarked Ronaldo, who picked his spot and placed it into the bottom corner to win it for Goa.
RESULT
Goa 1 (Ronaldo Oliveira 90+2’) Tamil Nadu 0
