MARGAO
Curtorim Gymkhana scored an easy 3-0 win over St Anthony's Club, Colva in the inaugural match of the 15th London Trophy Inter Village Football Tournament 2023 organised by Goa Velha Sports Club and played at Goa Velha Sports Club ground on Saturday.
After a lacklustre play between both teams, Milagres Fernandes of Curtorim Gymkhana had his long-range effort easily saved by the Colva keeper Valerian D'Sa in the 27th minute of play. St Anthony's Club, Colva nearly moved ahead when a thunderous effort from Samson Gomes was brilliantly parried for a corner by the Curtorim Gymkhana keeper Floyd Hilario in the 28th minute of play. Curtorim Gymkhana surged ahead in the 32nd minute of play through the boots of Nazly Hilario.
At half-time, the score read 1-0 in favour of Curtorim Gymkhana. In the second half, St Anthony's Club, Colva started in the right earnest but couldn't penetrate through the Curtorim Gymkhana defence. Curtorim Gymkhana nearly doubled their score but an effort from Aliston Fernandes sailed over the crossbar.
Sevin Luis of Curtorim Gymkhana saw his solo effort brilliantly saved by the Colva keeper Valerian D'Sa in the 53rd minute of play. Anthony Fernandes made it 2-0 in favour of Curtorim Gymkhana in the 56th minute of play when he shot home after an initial effort from Aliston Fernandes was partly saved by Valerian D'Sa. Joy Hilario added more misery and completed the rout for Curtorim Gymkhana to make it 3-0.
Clif Dias of St Anthony's Club, Colva and Manuel Castanha and Aliston Fernandes of Curtorim Gymkhana were cautioned by the match referee Aaron Cardozo. Milagres Fernandes of Curtorim Gymkhana was awarded the Man of the Match prize by John Viegas.
SCC Cavelosim enter quarterfinals
Santa Cruz Club of Cavelosim defeated hosts Cuncolim Union 6-5 via tiebreaker and entered the quarterfinals of the Late Afonso Aguiar memorial inter-village football tournament at Cuncolim playground, at Cuncolim on Saturday.
Santa Cruz dominated the game and fired sorties against the rival citadel and were rewarded in the 5th minute when Cuncolim keeper failed to collect a high ball and Cavelossim's Blayne Rodrigues latched on to a loose ball and gave a lead to Cavelossim. However their joy was short-lived and in 6th minute, Dylan Carvalho converted a spot kick after a rival defender fouled a Cuncolim striker inside the rival penalty box to level the score. Cavaelosim regained the lead through Meavan Gracias in the 8th minute and gave a lead of 2-1.
In the 17th minute, Dylan Carvalho equalized for Cuncolim through a well-placed shot outside of the box to make it 2-2. In the 22nd minute, Cuncolim union overcame the earlier jitters to take the lead through Daulat Dessai, 3-2. Daulat placed the ball calmly in the net through a well-timed pass from Wilson Fernandes. At the end of half-time, Cuncolim were leading the match 3-2.
In the second half, Cavelosim took control of the match and continued to put pressure in the Cuncolim box. Derryl Esteberio's shot went past the keeper and the score was level 3-3. Backed by the home crowd, Cuncolim pressed hard but the match winner eluded them. In the tiebreaker, Cuncolim Union scored through Dylan Carvalho, Errin Dsouza scored for Cuncolim Union while Darren, Presley Rodriguez and Ashley Pinto scored for Cavelosim. Arron Fernandez was awarded the man of the match at the hands of Gaurish Fadte, CPL Chairman.
