MARGAO
Verna Sports Club rallied from behind to defeat CDJ Ribandar 5-3 and move into the quarterfinals of the 24th Our Lady of Merces All Goa Inter-village Football tournament organised by Sirlim Sports Club at Chinchinim Church ground.
The teams shared two goals at halftime. The winners scored through Cyrus Noronha (28th, 48th and 51st minutes), Clifton Rebello (53rd)
and Sheldon Pereira (68th). The goals for CDJ Ribandar came from Sudesh Kavlekar (18th), Krishna Gawas (45th) and Krishnanath Shirodkar (48th).
Both teams began in the right earnest and made several forays at the rival territory. Both the goalkeepers, Royal Moniz (Verna SC) and Elesh Shirvoikar (Ribandar) displayed good reflexes and made timely saves. However, CDJ Ribandar's Sandesh Kavlekar found a chink in Royal's armour in the 18th minute after an intelligent pass from Minesh Kunkolkar from the right.
The tempo of the game increased thereafter with Verna lads putting pressure on Ribandar in search of an equaliser. Their efforts paid off when Cyrus Noronha restored parity in the 28th minute.
Crossing over on equal terms, it was attacks and counterattacks on both territories. Sandesh broke the deadlock scoring off a corner kick by Latish Kunkolkar with an intelligent shot. Clifton netted for Verna and completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute. Sheldon Pereira rounded off the scoring with a goal in injury time.
Sheldon Pereira of Verna received a yellow card from referee Jose Rebello.
