MARGAO: CAC Sports and Social Club Cansaulim staged a stunning comeback to defeat United Boys of Ambaulim 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw and storm into the quarter-finals of the 25th Fr Basilio Andrade Memorial Football Tournament.
Ambaulim started strongly, with Royal Oliveira opening the scoring after Velroy Carvalho’s cross. Royal then doubled the lead with a clinical finish off Alex Fernandes’ pass, putting Ambaulim in control.
Cansaulim goalkeeper Francisco Saldanha kept his side in the contest with a string of crucial saves, denying Sowell Fernandes and Royal on multiple occasions.
Cansaulim pulled one back when Deepak Kadam’s effort slipped past goalkeeper Ibon Fernandes and crossed the line. After the break, Francisco continued to frustrate Ambaulim, while Cansaulim pressed hard for the equaliser.
Their persistence paid off when Aloysius Mesquita dribbled past his marker and calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Ibon to make it 2-2.
With neither side able to find a winner in regulation time, the match went to a penalty shootout. Cansaulim converted all four of their kicks, while Ambaulim were denied twice by the woodwork, sealing a 4-2 victory for CAC.
Royal Oliveira of United Boys of Ambaulim was named Man of the Match. The award was presented by Trinidade Fernandes, president of United Club of Utorda.
