TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: A fine brace by striker Richard Dias helped hosts Verna Sports Club breezed past St Rock’s Youth Club, Calata-Majorda 2-1 and enter into the finals of all-Goa Verna Panchayat Cup inter-village football tournament, organized by Verna Sports Club, at Verna ground, Monday.
Verna Sports Club led 2-0 at half time.
Backed by vociferous home crowd, Verna dominated the opening session and kept their opponents on the back foot. They broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when inform striker Richard picked up the ball from his own half and slotted past the rival goalkeeper with snap shot.
Spurred by the early success, Verna intensified their attacks and doubled the lead in the 20th minute when Richard struck second time to complete his brace and give his team 2-0 cushion.
A lot was expected from St Rock’s Youth Club after they were down by 0-2, but today they looked disjointed and hardly made any efforts to reduce the margin.
Crossing over, Verna slackened their pace and allowed their opponents to launch attacks. St Rock pulled one back in the 50th minute when Sooraj Naik punished the rival goalkeeper with deft placement.
Spurred by the reducer, St Rock’s Youth Club upped the ante and troubled the rival defence with sporadic raids but Verna defenders were alert in frustrating the rival attacks.
Hosts Verna Sports Club will now meet Raia Sporting Club in the finals on December 12.
