MARGAO
Sporting Club of Davorlim comfortably triumphed 4-1 over a youthful Santa Cruz Society of Poitomado to secure their spot in the semifinals of the Cavelossim Panchayat Cup Inter-Village Football Tournament. The match, organized by Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, was held at the Fr. Druston and Wellington Ground.
Davorlim’s short-passing game was effectively orchestrated by veteran midfielder William Niasso, who controlled the tempo and set up their forwards with precise long passes. In the 20th minute, Milton Colaco passed back to Aeron Fernandes, whose floated ball was headed by Melchios Miranda but struck the crossbar. Just moments later, Niasso picked up the ball, unleashed a curling shot, and beat Poitomado keeper Franay Velip to give Davorlim a 1-0 lead.
Poitomado did have some opportunities, with Vinod Velip and Jolyton Fernandes failing to capitalize in front of goal. They nearly equalized when Kavish Kuraikar delivered a measured pass to Melish Pereira, whose first-time shot was saved by Davorlim’s keeper Francisco Colaco.
After the break, Niasso crossed the ball to an unmarked Neville Mascarenhas, whose pinpoint header found the back of the net, extending Davorlim’s lead to 2-0. Davorlim kept up the pressure, and in the 65th minute, Milton’s powerful long-range shot was weakly punched by Velip and deflected off the post into the goal, making it 3-0.
Poitomado’s substitute Shankar Gaunder pulled one back with a well-taken goal to reduce the score to 3-1. However, in the final minute, Milton Colaco sealed the win for Davorlim with another goal, making it 4-1 and securing their passage into the semifinals. They will face Navelim Villagers Union on January 17.
Neville Mascarenhas of Davorlim was named the Cavelossim Panchayat Man of the Match, with the award presented by Amit Malhotra, Manager of St. Regis Hotel, Cavelossim.
