MARGAO
Holders Nerul Sports Club scored a hard fought 2-0 win over Ambelim Sports Club in the inaugural match of the 16th London Trophy inter-village football tournament, organised by Goa Velha Sports Club, at Goa Velha Sports Club ground.
Deu Sangelkar of Nerul SC shot tamely into the hands of Ambelim Sports Club goalkeeper Benny Silva in the second minute. Nerul Sports Club surged ahead through Nikhil Naik who capitalised of an error from Ambelim Sports Club defender Floyd Furtado and shot home past the Ambelim keeper Benny Silva in the fourth minute.
Semson Fernandes of Ambelim Sports Club saw his attempt from close range for a corner by a diving Nerul Sports Club keeper Prasad Dabholkar. Off the resultant corner, Vishal Arakar blasted over the bar from close range in the 12th minute. Nestor Fernandes of Ambelim Sports Club saw his shot from close hit the post and go out with only the Nerul Sports Club keeper Prasad Dabholkar in goal in the 15th minute. Semson Fernandes of Ambelim again missed a glorious opportunity to equalise but he shot over the crossbar in the 18th minute. Deu Sangelkar made it 2-0 in favour of Nerul SC when he shot past the Ambelim keeper Benny Silva off Nikhil Naik's pass in the 24th minute. Royston Pereira of Nerul shot wide from a distance in the 34th minute. At half time, the score read 2-0 in favour of Nerul SC.
Gary Fernandes of Ambelim saw his long range shot go wide off the post in the 39th minute. Ambelim's Jerico Correiamissed an opportunity to reduce the margin but he shot wide from close range in the 44th minute.
Nikhil Naik of Nerul SC was awarded the man of the match by Elvis Mendes, ex-President of Goa Velha Sports Club and representative of Villagers of Goa Velha based in the United Kingdom.
