MARGAO
ABC Sports Club Arambol stormed into the grand finale of the 46th Cana Benaulim Soccer Championship with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Augustas SC Pomburpa in the second semifinal played at the Panchayat ground, Benaulim.
The North Goa side entered the clash with clear intent and purpose, eager to leave their mark on the prestigious tournament. The opening half was evenly contested, with both teams creating chances. However, it was Arambol who broke the deadlock just before halftime when Pranesh finished off a swift counter-attack with a clinical strike.
After the break, Pomburpa stepped up their offensive efforts, with Raju Padashi and Anford Fernandes leading the charge. However, their finishing let them down as shots either sailed wide or were comfortably dealt with by Arambol’s alert goalkeeper, Deitmar Fernandes.
Arambol soon extended their lead when Cupriano was fouled inside the box and converted the resulting penalty with composure. Their dominance was sealed in the 53rd minute when Myson Britto slotted home a second penalty after another foul inside the area.
Pomburpa struggled to penetrate Arambol’s backline, which was expertly marshalled by Sanford and Vivek. With a solid all-round performance, Arambol booked their place in Sunday’s final with confidence and momentum on their side.
