MARGAO
Maina SC, Curtorim prevailed over Cuncolim Union 5-4 via the tie-breaker to enter the finals of the 13th Bebe Costa Memorial Inter-Village football tournament organized by United Club of Benaulim at St John the Baptist Grounds, Dando-Benaulim on Tuesday.
In a thrilling encounter, Maina led twice through the goals of their strike pair of Jessel Carneiro and James Fernandes but Cuncolim displayed tremendous fighting spirit to restore parity through the efforts of Clifton Fernandes and Mickey Fernandes.
Maina dominated the initial stages of the match and a goal looked imminent and it arrived on the quarter-hour mark.
Cuncolim defense tried their best to upset the attacking intentions of the rival strikers and mainly relied on the offside trap but Curtorim's experienced midfielder Abel Noronha floated in a perfect ball over the defense in the huge vacant space where Jeesel Carneiro burst into speed ahead of his marker and got past the onrushing rival goalkeeper Shaikh Saheel to slot into the empty goal.
Cuncolim fought back and levelled terms in the 30th minute when Maina's wing back Manuel Castana pushed a weak back pass to his goalkeeper Johnson Bhogot but Cuncolim midfielder Clifton quickly capitalized on an error and put the ball into the unguarded goal. In the second session, Maina again surged ahead in the 55th minute through striker James Fernandes. As usual Cuncolim never gave up and drew level through Mickey Fernandes.
In the ensuing tie breaker Maina Curtorim were successful through Jessel Carneiro, Joywin Carneiro and Anthony Cardozo while Bestun Colaco and Bharat Gaunkar scored for Cuncolim.
Playing today: DBO Fatorda v SC Davorlim, St John the Baptist Grounds, Dando-Benaulim, 4.45 pm.
