MARGAO
Hosts Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim scored a hard-fought victory against Goa Velha SC via tiebreaker 5-3 to move into the quarterfinals of the Cavelossim Villagers UK Cup inter-village football tournament played at Fr Druston and Wellington ground, Cavelossim.
Both the teams were well balanced with attackers dominating the match and the play was mostly confined to the midfield. Cavelossim's Maven Gracias missed an early chance when he failed to connect a pass by Darren Estibeiro. For Goa Velha, Ryan Kispotta combined well with Vikrant but had no power in his boots to trouble the Cavelossim keeper Aaren Fernandes.
In the 30th minute, a 20-yard powerful shot from defender Aston Vaz was fisted out by Goa Velha keeper Agnelo Correia. The teams crossed over without scoring, but in the 56th minute, Darren Estibeiro chipped the ball over the defenders for Joyson Estibeiro to beat the off-side trap and score to put Cavelossim ahead to a thunderous applause of the local supporters.
But hardly had the cheers died down when Goa Velha's Bhavesh Gauns dribbled past Aston and Ashely of Cavelossim to side-foot the ball to Supurva Kundaikar, who made no mistake to draw level for Goa Velha, 1-1.
In the tiebreaker, Ashely, Allan, Darren, Joyson, and Flenco scored for Cavelossim, while Supurva, Lokeendra and Vikranth converted for Goa Velha. Cavelossim keeper Aaren saved Ansel Rego's kick to put his team in the quarterfinals.
Earlier at the start of the match, a minute's silence was observed as a mark respect to the departed soul of late Dr Jose Fernando Menezes, the father of Welwin Menezes, president of Goa Velha SC and also the GFA executive committee member and CEO of Sporting Clube de Goa.
