MARGAO
Navelim Sporting held their nerves to squeeze past a fighting United Boys Dando Colva 6-4 in the tiebreaker to enter the semifinals of the VM Salgaocar Memorial invitational inter-village football tournament organised by Prime SC in association with Margao SC at St John Baptist ground, Dando Benaulim.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, Clinton Niasso put Navelim ahead in the first half only for Samson Gomes to get the equaliser for Colva. Navelim responded with two quick goals through Velington Almeida and Mallapa Bisssargi for a comfortable lead. However, Calburn Fernandes and substitute Jovi Fernandes netted for Colva to take the match into the penalty shootout.
In the tiebreaker, Navelim scored through Clinton Niasso, Velingtom Silva, and Nevin Pereira while Terrence Miranda shot wide. Calburn Fernandes was the only scorer for Colva while Riston Gomes, Kabir Khan and Beevan Goes failed to score.
The special guests for the match, Jose Periera, the owner of Martins Corner, Betalbatim, and Franky Rogtao, an ex-footballer from Betalbatim, were introduced to the teams by Remedious Ferrao.
SC Davorlim reach semis
Sporting Club Davorlim marched into the semifinals after prevailing over a youthful Verna Sports Club 7-6 via the tiebreaker in the 48th Chandor Seamen football tournament organised by Chandor Club at Chandor ground on Thursday.
Both teams played well and were looking to open their account when luck smiled on Davorlim through Agnelo Colaco, who placed the ball into the Verna net, hoodwinking the keeper in the 5th minute. Verna worked hard in search of an equaliser but had to concede the lead to Davorlim 1- 0 at the interval.
Resuming play, the Verna lads huffed and puffed in the quest to level the score but were kept at bay by a rock-solid defence line of the Davorlim defence. In the 58th minute, Verna's Eusebio Fernandes' shot was headed by a Davorlim wing-back towards his own goal which hit the goalpost and rebounded onto the lap of the custodian and deflected inside, 1-1.
