PANAJI
Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Sanquelim edged past Rosary College of Commerce & Arts, Navelim, with a 2-1 victory in the first semifinal of the inter-collegiate football championship, on Thursday.
The match was thrilling, showcasing both teams' determination to reach the finals. The first half featured impressive offensive and defensive plays, though both sides missed several scoring opportunities. The pivotal moment came in the 45th minute when a backpass from Rosary College defender Edwin Kalsolkar to the goalkeeper was mishandled, resulting in an own goal.
The second half saw Rosary College come out strong, equalizing in the 56th minute with a goal from substitute Garrison Fernandes. The match intensified as Rosary launched multiple attacks, but in the 63rd minute, Government College Sanquelim regained the lead with a stunning direct free kick from captain Mohammed Saif, which evaded the defensive wall and the goalkeeper, securing their victory at 2-1.
In the second semi-final, S.S. Dempo College of Commerce & Economics, Cujira, triumphed over C.E.S’s College of Arts and Commerce, Cuncolim, with a narrow 1-0 win. The match was highly competitive, with both teams showing great effort to advance to the finals. The first half ended scoreless, despite C.E.S’s College starting strong.
The intensity ramped up in the second half, and in the 63rd minute, S.S. Dempo College found the net with a brilliant shot from Swavel Furtado. C.E.S’s College struggled to equalize, and the match concluded with Dempo securing a spot in the finals thanks to their effective combination of solid defense and aggressive offense.
