the goan I network
PANAJI
Sai Avtar, Anjuna defeated Ponda Footballers 2-1 to enter the semi-finals of the 30th All Goa St Anne’s Festival Soccer 2018 organized by Ponda Footballers in association with Dr Ketan Bhatikar’s SPARC played at Animal Husbandry ground Curti, Ponda.
Sai Avtar, Anjuna dominated the opening session scoring both their goals in the match through
Navin Shirodkar and Rohan Kamble. Crossing over, Ponda came strong taking the fight to the opposition. The Ponda outfit could only manage to reduce the margin through Henry’s effort. The goal-keepers of both the teams were impressive under their horizontal.
Ponda made the first move in the match through Henry who chipped over a delivery to Wayne but the latter’s shot was saved by the rival keeper. At other end, Pawan’s header was punched out by the Ponda Keeper, Subham Naik. Anjuna scored two quick goals when Pawan gave a through ball to Navin whose shot beat the keeper to open the scoring. Four minutes on, Navin’s shot touched the keeper’s hand and due to water the ball stopped near the goal line but an attacker, Rohan was at hand to tap the ball home.
the second half belonged to Ponda who went all out. Wayne’s cross to Brian found the latter’s strike punched out by the opposition shot-stopper. In another attempt, from the flanks Wayne chipped a ball to Henry whose volley beat the keeper to reduce the margin for the hosts. Henry gave a through ball to Wayne, who saw the keeper rushing out and chipped over, but the alert keeper timed his jump well to punch the ball for a corner. In a piece of brilliance, Ponda’s Manbahadur from the center line did well to dodge past two defenders with his powerful shot bringing a top draw save from the Anjuna keeper who jumped full length to keep his goal averted from danger.
Subham Naik was declared man of the match and Ex-Salgaoncar keeper Sevilo Caldeira gave away the prize.
