Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Sao Jose De Areal Sports Club edge past Navelim Villagers Union by 5-3 via Tie Breaker to advance to the quarters of the 18th All Goa Guirdolim Panchayat Cup organised by Guirdolim Club and played at Chandor Church Sports Complex.
In an entertaining match played at a high intensity Sao Jose De Areal came out all guns blazing immediately putting the Navelim defence under pressure. A timely tackle by Rovan Pereira of Navelim on Priston Gomendes ensured that they did not concede as early as the 3rd minute. Aryan Carvalho of Areal was the culprit in the 9th minute as he delayed taking a shot when clear on goal to be ultimately tackled by Rovan once again. Ronaldo Pereira of Navelim almost put his team ahead in the 17th minute with a long-range effort which missed the goal narrowly. Priston Gomindes of Areal missed an easy seater in the 32nd minute with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy, shooting wide. No goals were scored in the first session.
Changing over Areal continued to dominate and a quick one-two between Priston and Aryan of Areal in the 40th minute saw the latter cooly placing the ball in the Navelim goal to give his team the lead. Navelim regrouped quickly with Ronaldo and Lyndon combining well in tandem to restore parity in the 47th minute when Lyndon outsmarted the Areal keeper with a diving tap-in.
Both teams were equally matched at this point and tried hard to score but good defending by both teams ensured no more goals were scored till the end of regulation time.
In the resultant kicks from the penalty spot, Areal proved to be better shooter converting all 4 penalty kicks while Navelim could score only two.
Aryan Carvalho was awarded the Player of the Match by Sevaraj D’Costa, organising Chairman of the Guirdolim Panchayat Cup.
