MARGAO
Sao Jose de Areal SC booked their place in the semifinals of the Benaulim Villagers Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Siolim in a pulsating quarterfinal clash at the St John the Baptist Panchayat ground.
Areal started brightly and nearly took the lead in the fifth minute, only to be denied by a stunning save from the alert Siolim goalkeeper. Controlling possession and dictating tempo, Areal’s crisp midfield-to-attack combinations kept Siolim on the defensive for most of the first half, though both sides went into the break goalless.
The match burst into life after the restart. David Colaco broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a sharp finish, and just four minutes later, Ashnoy Gomes doubled Areal’s advantage with a composed strike, giving them a commanding 2-0 lead.
Siolim, however, refused to go quietly. Sherwin Lobo pulled one back in the 46th minute, setting up a frantic finale. Siolim piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but Areal’s defense held firm”Bersal and Aryan were rock-solid at the back, while goalkeeper Aggie Antao turned in a heroic performance with a string of outstanding saves.
Areal weathered the storm and held on to secure a memorable win, sealing their spot in the semifinals of the prestigious tournament.
