MARGAO
Verna SC entered the semifinals of the 33rd All Goa St Anne's Inter-Village Festival Soccer, held in memory of late Maria Anatansia Fernandes by Ponda Footballers at Animal Husbandry ground Curti Ponda on Sunday.
Verna SC defeated Goan Warriors Tivim 2-1. The match was a thriller for the Sunday crowd as both teams played single-touch soccer. At halftime, the teams were level 1-1 with both goals coming through penalties. In the 16th minute, Lenon Perreira took the ball into the flanks and chipped into the box and the ball grazed a defender's hand. The referee pointed to the spot and Andrew John scored the goal to take the lead for Verna.
In the 27th minute, Shane Themudo dodged a defender and his shot resulted in another handball-induced penalty. Tivim keeper Anil Desai converted from the spot to level the scores 1-1.
In the second half, Verna increased the lead before the Tivim team could settle. In the 36th minute, Gama passed the ball to Imamsab Guledanda who saw the keeper out of position and released a powerful shot past the keeper to make it 2-1 for the winners.
Thereafter both teams missed many opportunities. Now, Verna will take on Don Bosco Oratory Fatorda in the semis on July 19. Ex-chairperson of PMC, Rajendra Shirodkar gave away the man-of-the-match award to Imamsab Guledanda of Verna SC.
