MARGAO
Navelim Villagers Union edge past Sao Jose De Areal SC by 1-0 to advance to the semis of the 19th All Goa Guirdolim Panchayat Cup organised by Guirdolim Club and played at Chandor Church Sports Complex.
Navelim could have taken the lead in the 6th minute when Ronaldo Pereira shot powerfully off a freekick on top of the 18 yard box only to see his attempt thunder off the crossbar and out of play.
Bersal Viegas pf Areal on a quick counter attack in the 12th minute squared the ball to Steven Gomes who’s rasping drive was saved by the Navelim keeper on 2nd attempt. In the 18th minute Navelim were awarded a freekick in a promising position which was curled towards the goal by Sam Pereira but the Areal keeper acrobatically finger tipped it out for an abortive corner.
Clinton Niasso and Ronaldo Pereira worked in tandem for Navelim creating goal scoring opportunities but found the Areal defence led by veteran Bersal Viegas a hard nut to crack. Areal on the other hand could not convert their chances as Mehboob the Navelim keeper pulled off good saves. Both teams headed to the breather with the score reading 0-0.
Changing ends the tempo of the match remained the same with both teams trying to score. Navelim sensing the nervousness of the Areal keeper resorted to long range attempts which were mostly wayward. Areal tried to hit on the counter but again found Mheboob denying them on a couple of occasions.
In the 47th minute a cross from Clinton Niasso found Selvin Gomes rising above the Areal defence and heading the ball past a diving Areal keeper to give Navelim Villagers Union the lead. Stung by the goal Areal committed more bodies forward in search of an equaliser but their forwards were wasteful.
The final 10 minutes saw Navelim defending in numbers thus protecting their lead till end of regulation time, ensuring their place in the semi-finals.
Selvin Gomes of Navelim Villagers Union who scored the decisive goal was awarded the player of the match by Fabian Simoes, Ex-Co member of Guirdolim Club.
