MARGAO: Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club pulled off a stunning upset, edging out a dominant Cuncolim Union side 8-7 in a dramatic tie-breaker in the 26th Our Lady of Merces 8-a-side Football Tournament, at the Chinchinim ground.
Cuncolim appeared to be in full control of the match when Daulat Dessai opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a perfectly placed header, giving his side a 1-0 lead and dictating the tempo from the outset.
They had a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the second half, but Wilson Fernandes squandered a close-range sitter. Sao Jose de Areal, meanwhile, struggled to find a breakthrough”David Colaco’s weak effort was easily saved, and Bersal Viegas narrowly missed with a shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally came in the 59th minute, when Desi Olivera calmly slotted in the equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1 and sending the match into a nerve-wracking tie-breaker.
In the shootout, Areal held their nerve and converted all their attempts through Bersal Viegas, Mohammed Mansuri, Neville Fernandes, Ashwin Travasso, Desi Olivera, Myron Silva, and Platini Andrade. Cuncolim responded with goals from Matthew Fernandes, Jollyton Fernandes, Viraj Velip, Wilson Fernandes, Ansh Patel, and Shankar Gaunder, but ultimately fell short by one in a high-pressure finish.
