THE GOAN Network
MARGAO
St Anthony's Sports Club, Assolda blanked hosts Betalbatim Sporting Club 2-0 to emerge champions in the Martins Cup inter village football tournament organised by Betalbatim Sporting Club at Betalbatim Sports Complex, on Sunday. St Anthony's Sports Club led 1-0 at half time.
St Anthony's held upper hand in both the sessions and kept the festive crowds on their toes. They conjured up umpteen scoring chances and their efforts bore the fruit in the 25th minute when Sunny Fernandes slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot for the lead.
Stung by the setback, Betalbatim Sporting upped the ante but the rival defenders were alert in frustrating their attackers. St Anthony's had a couple of scoring chances to increase their tally but their forwards were guilty of muffing sitters.
Post resumption, backed by the crowd, Betalbatim Sporting made concentrated efforts to come back into the game but disappointed their supporters as they lacked the killer punch and wasted chances after reaching the rival danger zone. St Anthony's sustained the intensity of their game and twisted the knife further in the 45th minute when Cruz Gomes sealed the rival fate when he punished the rival goalkeeper with a clinical finish.
St Anthony's were richer by Rs 40,000 and a glittering trophy while Betalbatim Sporting Club had to settle for a prize of Rs 30,000 and a trophy. Keith Vaz, British MP and deputy leader of the Labour Party, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Nuvem MLA Micky Pacheco and Carafina Pereira, proprietor of Martins Corner, Betalbatim.
