the goan I network
PANAJI
Rossman Cruz Nagoa SC, Verna got the better of Snows Football Academy, Raia 7-5 to reach the finals of the 15th all-Goa Guirdolim Panchayat Cup, organised by Guirdolim Club, at Chandor church ground on Sunday.
In arguably the best match of the tournament, the Verna lads were more lively in the first quarter and almost took the lead in the 10th minute but Necessidade shot wide after being fed by Joy Ferrao.
Raia drew the first blood in the 14th minute when, after being set up by Lloyd Cardozo on top of the box, Wilfred Gomes scored with an angular shot. Raia’s joy was short-lived as in the very next minute, Joy Ferrao dribbled past a couple of rival defenders on the right wing and put the ball across the goalmouth where an onrushing Myron Fernandes scored with an easy tap-in. The teams headed into the break level at 1-1.
Changing ends, Raia were dominant and regained the lead in the 32nd minute when Sheenan Fernandes bulged the nylons with a powerful strike. Verna came back strong and in the 36th minute Raia’s keeper made a mess of an easy collection and Savio Fernandes of Verna, who was lurking around, scored to level the terms for Verna, 2-2.
With three minutes remaining, Savio Fernandes of Verna crossed the ball but Milton Fernandes missed an easy tap-in. The match ended 2-2 at regulation time. In the tiebreaker Myron, Savio, Vijal, Joy and Milton were on target for Verna. For Raia, Joyston, Velitan and Liston scored from the spot with the Verna keeper saving one penalty kick. Rossman Cruz Nagoa SC will now meet Dicarpale SC in the finals on February 17.
