Team Herald
BENAULIM: Hosts Young Strikers Club Benaulim blanked Varca Sports Club 3-0 to storm into the quarter-finals of the 31st Strikers Trophy Soccer Tournament organized by Young Strikers Benaulim and being played at St John the Baptist ground, Dando-Benaulim, on Wednesday.
From the start Varca SC goalkeeper Carmo Rebello was kept busy by the Young Strikers, as he punched out a gliding header by Meldon D’Silva in the 5th Minute.
The one way traffic continued and Young Strikers netted their first on the quarter hour mark when striker Kenneth Fernandes ran on to a fine ball by Merwin Afonso who slammed a fierce shot past the alert Carmo.
Before the breather Lavino Fernandes and Nicholas Rodrigues efforts were saved by Carmo.
Varca SC showed some signs of a fight back after the restart but substitute striker Nash Pereira and Jonas D’Costa could not find a way through the rival defence ably, marshalled by Medon D’Silva, Grayferns Popu, Rody Fernandes and Mervin.
Young Strikers consolidated the lead further with Nicholas lofting the ball intelligently over the keeper Carmo of a fine pass by winger Arif Pathan.
In the closing stages of the match Nicholas drew out Carmo and unselfishly rolled the ball to substitute Wellington Rodrigues for a simple finish to complete the route, making it 3-0 for Young Strikers.
