MARGAO
Goa Velha Sports Club prevailed over DBO Fatorda 4-2 via a tiebreaker in the finals to win the 13th Cana Benaulim Panchayat Cup, organised by United Club Benaulim and played at St John Baptista Football Ground, Dando Benaulim, on Saturday.
Goa Velha started the match on a promising note, with their forwards Akash Sanadi and Sainath Kankonkar, but they failed to score. Fatorda striker Francisco Andrade’s left-footer shot missed the target by a whisker. At the breather, both teams remained in a 0-0 draw.
In the second session, the rainy conditions made play difficult, but Fatorda’s Hanshlum Furtado’s stiff grounder shot was pushed away by alert Goa Velha keeper Pratik. Goa Velha’s Sainath Kankonkar’s shot from the edge of the box hit the crossbar and went away. Both teams had equal opportunities to score but couldn’t break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
In the tiebreaker, Goa Velha scored through Sainath Kankonkar, Prasil Kankonkar, Akash Sanadi, and Fredy Afonso, while for Fatorda, Clencio Pinto and Francisco Andrade found the net.
Dr Pratima Kesarkar, Principal Scientist NIO Dona Paula, was the chief guest and gave away prizes in the presence of Fr Aleixo Menezes, PP St John Baptista, Sarpanch Xavier Pereira, Anthony Pango, Sr Vice President GFA, Anthony Leo Mam, Andrew Ferrao, all panchayat members, and other dignitaries and club officials present for the finals.
The following prizes were awarded: Best Player of the Tournament: Prasil Kankonkar, Goa Velha; Best Half of the Tournament: Akash Sanadi, Goa Velha; Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Karol Soares, Fatorda; Best Striker of the Tournament: Joywin PY, Nuvem; Best Player of the Finals: Serino, Don Bosco; Best Discipline Team: Navelim Villagers Union; Best Striker of the Finals: Hanshlum Furtado, Fatorda; Best Defender of the Finals: Myron Fernandes, Fatorda; Best Goalkeeper of the Finals: Pratik Kankonkar, Goa Velha; Best Goal of the Finals: Clencio Pinto, Don Bosco; Man of the Finals: Kunal Kundaikar, Goa Velha; First Goal of the Finals: Sainath Kankonkar, Goa Velha.
