Panaji
Despite dominating the game in the opening minute, Black Arrows were on the receiving end conceding a soft goal when Gabby capitalized on a defensive lapse and coolly placed the ball past the rival keeper, 1-0. The goal brought life in the Black and White camp as they constantly raided their opponents, but much to their dismay their strikers failed to take their chances. Black Arrows at the other end had their best chance when Freddy laid Fernandes on goal but the latter shot straight
at the keeper.
With the time ticking for the half-time whistle, Black Arrows found themselves two goals down when Kappu’s left-footer rolled in the bottom left corner. At the other end, Black Arrows’ Freddy was denied by the post just before the breather. Black and White led 2-0 at the break.
Black Arrows came charging in the second half firing shots from distance but lacked accuracy. Black and White, however, looked content with the two-goal cushion and defended for the remaining half. Black Arrows almost pulled a goal back in the second quarter of the second half, but Freddy’s shot, which beat the keeper, was cleared off the line by rival defender.
On Wednesday, Black Limon, M7 Football Club, Ritu Boys and St Anthony Boys made their way into the knock-out stages of the tournament. Black Limon topped Group E after they thrashed Zapak Boys 5-1 and held M7 Football Club in their last fixture to a 2-2 draw; the hosts earlier blanked Zapak
Boys 2-0.
Featuring in the Group F, Ritu Boys climbed up to the pole position after defeating Sea Pearl in a 10-goal thriller to win the battle 6-4 and later St Anthony Boys by a solitary goal. St Anthony Boys on the other hand thrashed Sea Pearl 5-0 to climb up to the
second position.
