MARGAO
In a thrilling and dramatic encounter, Cuncolim Union emerged victorious with a 6-5 win over St Anthony SC Assolda to advance in the 26th Holy Cross Sports Club football tournament at the Vodlemol Kakoda ground.
The match was decided by a nail-biting penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time, with Cuncolim showing remarkable resilience despite being reduced to just eight men.
St Anthony SC Assolda dominated the first half, launching several attacks on Cuncolim’s goal. However, despite their dominance, they failed to break the deadlock. Against the run of play, Cuncolim took a surprise lead in the 15th minute. Vinod Velip found the back of the net after receiving a perfectly timed through ball from Daulat Dessai, putting Cuncolim 1-0 ahead and shifting the momentum in their favour.
Assolda responded quickly in the 26th minute, with Regan scoring a brilliant equaliser. Regan dribbled past Cuncolim’s defence to slot the ball home in a one-on-one situation, making it 1-1.
The second half saw Assolda ramp up their attacks in search of a winner, but Cuncolim’s depleted squad displayed incredible defensive organisation to thwart their opponents’ efforts. Despite Assolda’s best efforts, no further goals were scored, and the match moved to a penalty shootout.
In the tie-breaker, Cuncolim held their composure, with Viral, Daulat, Tushar, Shankar, and Ansh all converting their penalties. Assolda’s Jackson, Samuel, Vicky, and Welson also scored, but a crucial miss proved costly, allowing Cuncolim to secure a thrilling 6-5 win and progress to the next round of the tournament.
