MARGAO
Rosary College, Navelim edged past St Xavier's College, Mapusa 1-0 to set up the final of Canara Bank inter college women's football league with GFA Selection at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday. The all important goal came through the boots of Ansiva Vaz.
Both the teams adopted aggressive approach and the play was restricted to midfield. As the match progressed, Rosary College took control of the game and Mabel Mascarenhas and Ansiva Vaz troubled the rival defence with well orchestrated raids. However, St Xavier's College custodian Astrida Pereira was rock solid under the bar and effected several saves to keep the slate clean.
At the other end, St Xaviers's made a couple of attempts at the rival goal but Rosary College defenders thwarted them with neat tackles. The winner came in the 30th minute when Ansiva Vaz slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot and took their tally to eight goals. Ansiva was adjudged as Quadros Motor player of the match.
Earlier, a splendid brace by Velanie Fernandes helped GFA Selection trounce Government Quepem college 4-1 in the first semi-final. Captain Velanie Fernandes was the star of the match and distributed the ball really well and got all her team-mates involved in the match.
Velanie gave a nice pass to Avia Jean Vas who got an early goal in the seventh minute for GFA Selection. The early goal did not deter the spirits of Govt. College and they pressed hard to find the equalizer. Cianna Lobo picked up the ball deep in GFA Selection territory and moved the ball up and gave a nice pass to Velanie Fernandes, who unleashed a strong volley to find the back of the net in the 23rd minute, 2-0.
One of the quickest players on the field, Marlat Cardozo then got the third goal for GFA Selection with a cool finish in the 33rd minute off a pass from Anline Fernandes. Velanie Fernandes dashed all hopes of a possible Govt College Quepem comeback with a long-range effort that beat the goalkeeper in the 50th minute to put GFA Selection 4-0 up.
Macrenna Dias was a shining example of the never-say-die spirit of Govt. College Quepem and got a consolation goal for them by dribbling past two defenders and calmly placing the ball in the back of the net in the 57th minute. Velanie Fernandes was named the player of the match.
