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Cruz's brace helps AVC Red win Goan soccer DUBAI: A stunning goal in the first minute and another toward the fag end by Neil Cruz saw AVC Red romp home in the sixth eight-a-side Goan soccer tournament organised by Jebel Ali Residential Club in Jebel Ali on Friday. Cruz's brace help AVC Red defeat ABC Benaulim 2-0 in the finals of the day-long event which featured 20 teams. Incidentally both teams had started in the same group sharing points with a goalless draw in their first meeting. Cruz stunned Benaulim keeper with a rasping drive from midfield a minute into the game to put AVC Red into the lead. Having the likes of Floyd, Benny, Stanley and Roy, Benaulim tried their best to draw level. However, the equalizer eluded them. And when they threw everything into the attack, one AVC counter-move saw Cruz striking again in the dying minutes to seal victory for the Reds. Former Salgaocar player Santana Dias excelled for AVC Reds while Stanley, Roy Chandan and Floyd played well for the losers. Fr Agnel Pilar edged out Atletico Varca in the hard-line tie-breaker to clinch the third place. Cruz was the star player of the final and was later adjudged the best player of the tournament. Earlier AVC Red beat Atletico Varca while Benaulim edged past Fr Agnel Pilar, both the semi-finals decided on shoot-outs. Twenty-teams taking part in the tournament were divided into four groups. After a round robin league, ABC Benaulim (10 pts), AVC Red (7) from Group A, Atletico Varca (12) and Fr Agnel Pilar (5) from Group B, SFX Anjuna (8) and Fernz Goans (7) from Group C and Vaxim-Divar (10) and Loutolim (5) from Group D qualified for the knockout quarter-finals. Teams were tied on points for the second place in Group B and Group D but those with better goal-average advanced, knocking out some star teams like Guirim and SFX Old Goa. In the quarters AVC Red beat St Francis D'Assisi Anjuna 1-0 (Neil Cruz), ABC Benaulim defeated Franz Goans 2-0 (Benny and Iman) Atletico Varca beat Loutolim 2-0 (Franky, Steven Gurung) and Fr Agnelo Pilar beat Vanxim Divar (tie-breaker). The other teams included Le Meredien Goans, Jebel Ali International Hotel, Dramapur, SFX Old Goa, AVC Blue, St Anthony, Raia, United Goans, Chandor, Guirim, FC Siolim and Siolim United. EM Hughes, Recreation manager, was the chief guest and gave away the trophies. The following prizes were awarded - Best Defender: Stanley - ABC Benaulim, Best midfielder: Sandy -St. Anthony Pernem, Best forward: Shane Thomas -Atletico Varca, Best goalkeeper: Steven -AVC Red, Highest scorer: Benny - ABC Benaulim, Most promising player: Prashant of AVC Blue, Best player: Neil Cruz - AVC Red, Best Disciplined Team: United Goans. The referees who officiated at the matches, Deva, Seby, Hansel and Albino were rewarded along with others who helped in organising the tournament. A minute's silence was observed before the final in memory of Alex Pinto, who died recently. The tournament was sponsored by Dewalt with support coming from Solico, Clipsal, Al Safooh Tanker Services, Danway, Oasis Water, Global Metal, TNT, Al Mubdee Scaffolding, Reliable Fabricators, Consent, Huber Technology and BTi. Among those present for the final were Moses Colaco, Brian Woodburn, Jose from Dewalt, Bruno, Fadi Abdallah, and Lester Gracias of Oasis Water.
