THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Goa moved into the quarterfinals league round of the Junior National Under-18 football championship for girls.
In the final preliminary league match of Group F played on Saturday morning at Rosary Sports Complex Navelim, the Goan girls huffed and puffed their way past a spirited Telangana. In the end, the score read 5-0, but the final score concealed a sorry tale of poor finishing, and disintegrated midfield play. Goa will need to pull up their socks as they now face far superior opponents in the quarter-finals league.
Skipper Velanie Fernandes gave Goa the lead in the fourth minute of the match. The lead was further consolidated by striker Sushmita Jadhav in the 15th minute and medio Anline Sharmila Fernandes made it 3-0 in the 18th minute. Lifa Gama added to Telangana's woes when she slotted home in the 38 minute, giving Goa a comfortable lead of 4-0 at halftime. After half time, the Goan girls seemed to relax and seemed slightly off-color. Velanie Fernandes scored her second goal of the match with a pile driver that scooted into the Telangana net.
Goa have been grouped in Group II of the quarterfinals league alongside Orissa, Delhi and Mizoram.
