MARGAO
Verna Sports Club registered a solitary goal win against Dicarpale Sports Club to enter the finals of the 17th All Goa Guirdolim Panchayat Cup, organised by Guirdolim Club, at Chandor Church Sports Complex.
The match kicked off with both teams demonstrating hunger to break the deadlock right from the word go. It was Dicarpale who made the first move but William Niasso was unlucky to see his powerful strike kiss the upright and go out of play in the fifth minute. Jaison Vales was the culprit for Dicarpale in the seventh minute when he failed to capitalise on a defensive error made by the Verna defence to blast his attempt wide off the mark. Eusebio of Verna in the 15th minute was tackled in the knick of time by Sanju in the Dicarpale defence to deny a scoring opportunity. Eusebio again fumbled in front of the Dicarpale goal and missed an easy sitter in the 21st minute. Both teams created many opportunities but couldn't convert any and went into the break with the score reading 0-0.
After change of ends, both teams maintained the tempo much to the satisfaction of a huge crowd. It was again Dicarpale who looked sharper of the two teams but poor finishing led them down. Dicarpale pushed more men forward in hope of scoring but it proved to be costly as a counter attack led to a beautiful one-two between Eusebio and Ajoy with Eusebio scoring with a low shot in the 48th minute to give Verna the lead.
Thereafter Dicarpale went all out to equalise and almost succeeded in the 54th minute but Jaison's power packed volley off a corner-kick hit the upright and went out of play. Dicarpale pushed hard for an equaliser but the resolute Verna defence led by Cyrus stood rock solid ensuring a victory for Verna SC .
Eusebio Fernandes of Verna was awarded the man of the match by Jose Peixoto, Ex-Co Member of Guirdolim Club.
