RAIA: Verna Sports Club got the better of Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda, 6-5 via tie-breaker in the final to lift the 17th All Goa Guirdolim Panchayat Cup organised by Guirdolim Club at Chandor church sports complex, recently.
The match started with Verna SC dominating proceedings and they almost took the lead in the second minute but Ajoy Satorker’s powerful strike from top of the box was brilliantly saved by the DBO Fatorda goalkeeper.
Cyrus Noronha scored the first goal of the match for Verna SC in the 9th minute with a header, off a corner kick, to make it 1-0.
Stung by the early goal, DBO Fatorda regrouped with Andrade, Hanslum and Cliff combining well but Jose Silveira, the Verna goalkeeper, kept them at bay with excellent goalkeeping.
Both teams failed to score any more goals till the lemon break due to good goalkeeping by both the keepers.
Changing over, Verna SC continued dominating with Imamsab and Romario missing a couple of easy chances. In the 45th minute, a long range effort by Verna SC’s Romario hit the crossbar and went out of play.
Francis Andrade of DBO Fatorda unleashed a powerful volley with his left foot in the 48th minute which was saved by the Verna SC keeper diving full length. Hanslum of DBO Fatorda tried his luck from top of the box but was denied by Verna SC keeper Jose diving full length to his left. Just as it looked like the match would end in favour of Verna SC, Hanslum of DBO Fatorda took advantage of a goal mouth melee to score the equaliser for DBO Fatorda in the 57th minute. Ajoy of Verna SC almost scored in the last minute but his crisp strike hit the upright and went out of play. The match thus ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
In the resultant tie-breaker, Andrus, Ajay, Romario, Cyrus and Frazer scored for Verna SC, while for Don Bosco Oratory Necil, Francis, Cavin and Mario were on target.
Earlier, the teams were introduced to chief guest Quepem Constituency MLA Altone D’Costa, Melissa Alemao, Fr Jean Da Cruz, parish priest of Chandor; Fr James Torres, chaplin of Guirdolim; Sonia Fernandes, sarpanch of VP Guirdolim and other dignitaries.
Patwin Fizardo, president of Guirdolim Club welcomed, while Darwin Cardoso, general secretary of Guirdolim Club proposed a vote of thanks.
