PANAJI
Pratap Sawant tapped in the lone goal of the match as SAI Veterans eased past a gritty Morjim Veterans to book the fourth and final spot in the semifinals of the Fifth Pogo Boys 50+ Veterans Cup at the Merces Church Ground, on Sunday.
By far the superior team, Morjim created chances with Nicholas Fernandes, Shankar Dhargalkar and Shekhar Shirodkar mounting early pressure on the SAI Veterans goal. But with former India and Salgaoncar defender Franky Barreto manning the SAI backline, it was left up to Vikrant Sharma to keep their goal safe and secure.
With Morjim threatening to score, it was left up to SAI Veterans to come up with quick counters. And it was during one of these snap moves in the 23rd minute down the right that Patrick Silveira found his pass go past the outstretched hands of Bharat Morje for Sawant to coolly place into an empty goal for what proved to be the match-winner in the end.
Morjim Veterans were all over the SAI territory in the second half, and in fact, came closest midway through the session but Tushar Shetgaonkar’s tap beat Sharma on the SAI goal, only to see Stanley Colaco pounce on the ball and affect a close call on goal.
SAI Veterans will now meet Bardez Veterans in the first semifinal on August 20, while Vasco Veterans will take on Verna Veterans in the other half of the draw the following day. The final will be played on August 24.
