Betalbatim Sporting Club were the early aggressors with their forwards troubling the rival defence with sporadic raids. At the other end, Navelim Villagers Union struggled initially to catch up with the brisk pace but slowly started building up momentum through Aulon Gomes and Clinton Niasso.
MARGAO
In a lively encounter, Navelim Villagers Union came from behind to defeat Betalbatim Sporting Club 2-1 and enter the quarter-finals of South Goa McDowell's No. 1 Yaari Premiere Cup inter village football tournament organized by Cuncolim Union at Government Village School Playground, Cuncolim on Sunday. Navelim Villagers Union were trailing 0-1 at half time.
Betalbatim Sporting Club were the early aggressors with their forwards troubling the rival defence with sporadic raids. At the other end, Navelim Villagers Union struggled initially to catch up with the brisk pace but slowly started building up momentum through Aulon Gomes and Clinton Niasso.
Betalbatim Sporting Club broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when striker Ronaldo Coelho picked up the ball from Austin Fernandes and the former unleashed a snap shot to beat the Navelim Villagers Union goalkeeper Paul Fernandes.
Stung by that setback, Navelim Villagers Union regrouped quickly and took the fight to the rival camp and launched a flurry of attacks. A glorious opportunity to score was handed to Aulon Gomes -- who found himself in no one man's land with only the rival goalkeeper to beat -- but his try landed wide.
Thereafter, Betalbatim Sporting Club conjured up scoring opportunities. In one such foray, rival goalkeeper Paul Fernandes comfortably collected Ronaldo Coelho's stingless attempt. With time nearing for half time, Navelim Villagers Union had a chance to level the scores but striker Clinton Niasso blew away a golden opportunity.
The second half showed Navelim Villagers Union in better light as Betalbatim Sporting Club turned to miss-passes, losing 50-50 balls and possession. Navelim Sporting Club cancelled the lead in the 42nd minute when Aldrich Gomes found Darren Pexeito free inside the rival penalty box and the last named punished the rival goalkeeper Jonathan Miranda with clinical finish to put his team on equal terms.
After levelling the scores, Navelim Villagers Union on top of their game as they won many a second balls with the rivals' fragile defence finding it tough to gain a balanced ground. In the 55th minute, Presely Gomes who exchanged a one to one with Suraj Naik and the former beat the rival goalkeeper with stiff grounder which saw them to secure a 2-1 deserving win over the Betalbatim outfit.
Earlier Ronaldo Coelho had a golden chance to regain the lead for Betalbatim Sporting Club, finding his shot inches away from the goal. Fr Americo Baretto proved to be a stumbling block in Betalbatim Sporting Club build-up while he also executed his role as defender with aplomb.
