the goan I network
MARGAO
Velsao Sports & Cultural Club prevailed over Sesa Football Academy 10-9 in sudden death (1-1 in regulation time) to storm into the quarter-finals of Goa Police Cup football tournament at SAG Artificial Turf, Fatorda on Saturday.
Darren Estiberio scored in the 26th minute for Velsao while Manjunath Rathod drew level in the 36th minute. Sesa were on the attack early and Ashely Cardozo’s shot kissed the crossbar. However, it was Velsao who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, thanks to rival defender Babu Naik’s feeble clearance and Anthony Cardozo intercepted the ball and found Darren Esibeiro, who beat the rival goalkeepeer Roanal Gaunkar.
Spurred by the lead, Velsao upped the ante and Klusner Pereira’s rasping shot hit the crossbar.
Sesa’s equalizer came in the 36th minute when Anil Chawah floated the ball from the flanks and Manjunath Rathod leapt high to nod the ball in, beating Velsao goalkeeper Prabhakar Kattimani. The equaliser boosted Sesa colts as they put pressure on the rival citadel but all the attempts were thwarted by the Velsao defenders.
Post resumption, Sesa put up a vastly improved display and created many forays into the rival territory. However Anil blasted wide from close range off Ryan Fernanndes. At the other hand, Velsao’s Anthony Cardozo tried to show some trickery in the opposition box but his final shot was poor and wide of
the target.
Sesa nearly found the match winner midway in the second half but substitute Leishram Heteri delayed in having a crack at goal.
In the penalty shootout, Anthony Cardozo, Prahlad Velip, Siddesh Keserkar, Manushan Fernandes, Joel Colaco, Darren Esitibeiro, Ayesh Tari, Frazier Rogtao were on target for Velsao Sports & Cultural Club, while Lionel D’Souza, Rovan Pereira, Dheeraj Chouhan, Ronal Gaonkar, Cyrus Noronha, Ashley Cardozo, Ryan Fernandes and Manujunath Rathod found the mark for Sesa Football Academy. In the sudden death, Prabhakar Kattimani was successful for Velsao while Babu Naik failed for Sesa Football Academy.
