MARGAO
Bardez Veterans booked their spot in the semifinals of the Panjim Veterans Football Tournament, organized by Panjim Veterans, with a surprise 2-0 victory over Vasco Veterans at the Taleigao ground.
The match was evenly contested in the first half, with both teams heading into the break locked at 0-0. Bardez broke the deadlock in the second half through Atul Naik, who finished off a well-timed pass from Pratap Gawas. Vasco had an opportunity to equalize, but Santan Furtado failed to convert.
Despite Vasco’s defensive lineup featuring Saluzinho Barreto in goal and defenders Nelson Landez, Shaikh Niyazi, Fr. Franky Fernandes, and Ramesh Palkar, Bardez pushed forward with Lawrence Quadros and Benedic Fernandes leading the attack. Their persistence paid off in the dying minutes when Govind Balekar sealed the win with Bardez’s second goal.
Mathew Gonsalves (former national and club footballer with Sporting Clube de Goa, Dempo, and Pune FC) was the chief guest and presented the Man of the Match award to Uday Naik of Vasco Veterans.
