Team Herald
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BENAULIM: Young Strikers Club, Benaulim edged past Goa Velha Sports Club 5-4 via the tie-breaker to enter the last four of the 34th Strikers Trophy soccer tournament organised by Young Strikers Benaulim, at St John Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim, on Monday.
The match began on a cautious note but Benaulim enjoyed more ball possession than their rivals.
Benaulim had the first clear look at the goal but striker Macku Fernandes’ shot over the crosspiece in the 18th minute.
Goa Velha almost took the lead but striker Chatur Naik was foiled by an alert rival goalkeeper Swisfron da Silva with an excellent save.
After the change of ends the woodwork denied Benaulim a deserving lead in the 57th minute when Arif Pathan’s free-kick was headed on by lanky Kenneth Fernandes inside the box where substitute Keegan Fernandes made a strong connection only for the ball to graze the post and go out of play.
Five minutes later, Goa Velha took the lead when Chatur Naik sent in a fierce flag kick which was headed in by stopper back Kunal Kundaikar past Swisfron Silva.
In search of the equaliser, Benaulim exerted pressure with winger Raymond Fernandes creating attacks from the right to unsettle the rival rearguard.
The persisent efforts were rewarded two minutes before the close when left back Rizvan Ratos struck a right footer from a long distance which struck the post but defender Rody Fernandes who went up to bolster the attack was in the right place to slot in the loose ball past the Goa Velha goalkeeper Pravin Naik to set up the tie-breaker.
In the penalty shoot-out the hosts were successful through Osbourne Fernandes, Kenneth Fernandes, Rizvan Ratos and Rody Fernndes while Chatur Naik, Kunal Kundaikar and Joseph Rodrigues netted for Goa Velha.
