MARGAO: Hosts Raia Sporting Club booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 53rd Custodio Memorial Football Tournament with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Shiroda Youth Club at the Panchayat Ground, Raia, on Sunday.
Shiroda made a dream start when Vaibhav Naik opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Raia responded strongly, with Daniel Gomes restoring parity in the 25th minute before Kifren Dias put the hosts ahead five minutes later.
The lead was short-lived as Vaibhav Naik struck his second goal of the match in the 35th minute to level the scores at 2-2 before the interval.
Both teams continued to battle fiercely after the break, but it was Raia who found the decisive breakthrough. Lloyd Cardozo netted the all-important winner in the 60th minute to send the hosts into the last eight of the tournament.
Fr Jovit D'Costa, Chaplain of Manora, presented the Player of the Match award to Velito Cruz.
