MARGAO A second half strike by Milton Rocha enabled Sporting Club of Davorlom overcome Betalbatim Sporting Club 1-0 and romp into the finals of 27th Super Soccer tournament organized by United Boys of Dando, Colva at St John the Baptist Dando ground, Benaulim on Thursday. Davorlim will meet St Anthony's Sports Club, Assolda -- who beat CAC, Cansualim 3-2 in the first semis -- in the finals on July 10.
In an evenly poised battle, both the teams went into an attacking mode and launched a flurry of attacks and there were many thrills at either end but no goal was scored in the first session. Crossing over, both the teams showed urgency and defenders were kept busy in checking the attackers. The lone goal of the match came soon after resumption when Milton Rocha unleashed a volley that crashed into the net.
Stung by the setback, Betalbatim Sporting went all out and pressed more men upfront in search of the equalizer but the rival defence never allowed their frontmen to manoeuvre inside their territory. With time running out, Betalbatim Sporting nearly found the equalizer but goalkeeper Venson Figureido showed fine anticipation and reflexes to deny Klusner Pereira.In the first semi-final, a splendid hat-trick by Sunny Fernandes helped St Anthony's Sports Club, Assolda beat CAC, Cansualim 3-2.
St Anthony's stamped their authority early in the game and did not have to wait for long as they went ahead in the 12th minute when Sunny Fernandes slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot. After the change of ends, St Anthony's started from where they had left and Sunny doubled the lead when he punished the rival goalkeeper with a neat finish in the 42nd minute. Sunny completed his hat-trick when he punted the ball to the far corner of the net in the 56th minute.
Down 0-3, CAC, Cansualim intensified their attacks and scored in the 60th minute when Anthony D'Souza beat the rival goalkeeper with rasping shot. Zeagan Ferrao then reduced the deficit further but St Anthony's held on to their one-goal advantage to advance.
