MARGAO: CAC Cansaulim blanked Betalbatim Sporting Club 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of the 45th Gold Silver Rolling Trophy football tournament, organised by Navelim Sporting Club and played at Rosary Church Ground, Navelim, on Tuesday.
The match began at a slow pace, with both teams trying to gain control. Dickson Rogtao set up Branson Fernandes, whose shot was punched away for a corner by the Betalbatim goalkeeper. Before the break, Cansaulim’s Aloysius Mesquita narrowly missed the target as the teams went into halftime goalless.
Cansaulim changed their approach after the break, opting for quick passing and taking control of the game. Their pressure paid off as Jeremy Barreto put them ahead in the 41st minute, while Deepak Kadam doubled the lead in the 52nd minute.
In the dying minutes, Betalbatim’s Raj Kerkar fired from inside the box, but his effort struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. The alert Cansaulim defence cleared the danger safely.
CAC Cansaulim’s Selwin De Melo was adjudged Player of the Match and received the award from Fr Roblon Mascarenhas, assistant parish priest of Navelim Church.
