MARGAO
Margao Sports Club rode to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Verna Sports Club to enter the last-four of the V M Salgaocar Memorial invitational inter-village football tournament organised by Prime SC at St John Baptist ground, Dando Benaulim.
Verna paid the price for their complacency as Margao took full advantage, netting through defender Roque Borges and striker Michael Vaz to book the place in the semis.
Verna started with a bang with striker Andrus John finding space in the box to unleash a right-footer which was tipped just over the bar by the lanky Margao goalkeeper Selvino Noronha in the 5th minute. Verna got another opportunity but young winger Lenon Pereira was indecisive in taking a shot at the target in the box.
The Margao boys were mostly on the backfoot but gradually came back with veteran Francis Andrade finding gaps in the rival defence. Margao pushed more players forward and then deservedly went ahead in the 26th minute when Andrade took a pass from Milson Baretto and sent in a hard cross inside the box for stopper back Rocky Borges to nod in past the hapless Royal Moniz in the Verna goal.
Margao, the co-hosts of the tournament, continued their attacks and a minute before the lemon break, got the second through the boots of Michael Dias following a low cross by Cliff Baretto.
The crowd were expecting a fightback from the in-form Verna team but Margao were determined not to allow a comeback for their arch-rivals. Margao goalkeeper Selvino also had an excellent outing, making a crucial save in the 48th minute to deny Salvador Gama's goal-bound header with a one-handed save.
Verna tried hard to get back into the match but the Margao defence consisting of Roque, Alfred Noronha, Joel Camara and Elroy Baretto stood firm to complete an easy win.
