MARGAO
Don Bosco Oratory Fatorda booked their place in the finals of the 26th All Goa Our Lady of Merces Football Tournament after edging out United Club Nerul 5-3 in a tense tie-breaker, following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
DBO Fatorda drew first blood in the 30th minute when Hanslum Furtado latched onto a precise pass and calmly slotted home, giving his side a slender lead at the break. UC Nerul responded swiftly after the restart, with Royce Gonsalves finding the equaliser in the 36th minute.
The remainder of the match was packed with drama. Nerul goalkeeper Rupesh Bandodkar produced a superb save to deny Furtado’s close-range header, while Schubert Colaco’s powerful strike for DBO Fatorda rattled the crossbar, keeping both sides level.
With no breakthrough in normal time, the contest went to penalties. DBO Fatorda’s Clive Miranda, Valito Miranda, Cayven Araujo and Furtado all converted from the spot, while Nikhil Naik and Stanley D’Silva scored for UC Nerul. The decisive moments fell in DBO Fatorda’s favour, sealing a 5-3 shootout win and a shot at the title.
