Panaji
Maina started off on a positive note as their strikers made their intentions clear.
Jeliston Pereira opened the scoring for Maina by latching on to a pass from Nelson to beat Benny D’Silva in the Ambelim goal. The early goal seemed to have given Maina the right momentum to plan out an attacking strategy for the match.
At the other end Ambelim threatened to draw level and almost came close to doing so. Arvind Fernandes squared the ball to Ralpf Fernandes but the last named shot over the Maina bar much to the disappointment of their supporters.
Welson Fernandes put Maina further ahead, beating Benny again from close for a two-goal lead. Joshley Gomes made it 3-0 for Maina, dribbling past a host of Ambelim defenders and blasting the ball to the roof of the net to give themselves solid 3-0 cushion at the halfway stage.
Ambelim were once again presented with an opportunity to score a reducer but Samson Fernandes’ solo run saw the ball being hit hard towards the goal only to be safely collected by Christo Hilario .
Ambelim upped their ante in the second half and were on an attaching spree.
Had Samson Simoes and Anthony Barretto not missed from close may be the result would have been a bit different.
Niall Cardozo was unlucky as his shot grazed the Maina upright and went out of play. Welson Fernandes rounded off the tally for Maina with a superb placement in the Ambelim goal to ensure they trooped out worthy winners.
