By Gasper Crasto, Kuwait
Kuwait City, Dec 30, 2007: Strong contenders Kuwait Goan Association, Bombay
Boys, Curtoracares United and CRC Chinchinim advanced into the next round of
the 18th edition of Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) Rolling Trophy Football
Tournament being played at Salmiya Grounds.
Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) were in full control as they overcame a stiff
challenge by Santos Football Club 2-1. Zico D' Souza, Teotonio Fernandes,
Caridade and Christo Colaco excelled for KGA throughout the match. The
experience of Santos' Darwin D' Cruz, Agnello Carvalho and goalkeeper Rosario
Colaco could do little in the first half of play as KGA pumped in two quick
goals through striker Andre Dias and Adelio Fernandes. Datta Narvenkar pulled
one back for the losers.
But despite dominating much of the contest, KGA was forced to rely on stopper
back Teotonio Fernandes and goalkeeper Concessao Rodrigues for sensational
saves late into the match as Santos threatened an unlikely comeback.
On Ground A, Bombay Boys Sports Club scrambled past enthusiastic youngsters
Paradiso Sports Club 4-3 via the tie-breaker. Paradiso dominated the entire
match but failed to penetrate into the Bombay defense.
In the first quarter of play Bombay Boys attacked from the wings but Paradiso
defence showed lot of nerve to let anything past them. Paradiso nearly scored
in the 20th minute, but Jude D'Costa's header off Aston Fernandes' cross went
wide. A minute later, Roland Fernandes had another chance but his shot was
saved by Bombay goakeeper Adrian Goes who shone in the match above all the
Bombay Boys players.
Paradiso came close to scoring in the second half but were denied again by
the Bombay Boys keeper who dived sharply to his left to block a close-range
shot from Roland.
Bombay Boys were all on target in the tie-breaker scoring through Anthony
D'Costa, Seby Fernandes, Sanjiv Naik and Lazin Fernandes. Paradiso scored
through Assumption Rodricks, Manesh and Manoj while Steven Correia and Christi
Menezes failed in their attempts.
The other match played between Veterans and CRC Chinchinim also went into
tie-break with the latter winning 4-2.
Veterans produced several attacking moves within a space of minutes in the
first quarter. Their ever impressive strikers Robin Fernandes and Casmiro
D'Souza provided a string of crosses from both flanks. Goalkeeper Anthony
Fernandes came to Chinchinim's rescue when he blocked a header from Veterans'
Noel Pinto following a cross by Cipriano Gonsalves.
Chinchinim threatened only intermittently but in the late second half a
powerful shot from Joseph Melcon looked goal-bound until Veterans' goalkeeper
Kamal Basha managed to tip off the ball over the bar.
In the tie-breaker, Chinchinim scored through Valent Fernandes, Felix Pereira,
Ronald Sequeira and Godwin Fernandes. Only Colin Figueira and Michael Godinho
of Veterans could hit past Chinchinim goalkeeper Anthony who is famous in
Kuwait as a tie-breaker specialist for the last several seasons. Anthony
blocked the kick of Veteran stalwart Teddy Pinto while Sandy Tavares shot out.
In another match Curtorcares United continued their grand run into the NYC
Rolling Trophy thrashing one of the oldest and respected clubs in Kuwait -
United Goans Centre 7-0. Curtorcares scored at will through Anthony Furtado,
Jose Cardozo, Zico Fernandes (2 goals), Alex Fernandes and substitute R.V.
Murthy (2 goals).
The next round promises a spectacle for spectators as two Kerala teams
Kerala Challengers and Fahaheel Bros take on each other; while host and 6 time
champions Navelim Youth Centre take on the finalists of NYC Trophy for the last
3 consecutive years - AVC Overseas Association.
Friday's (04/01/2008) Fixtures
GROUND A
Kerala Challengers v/s Fahaheel Bros at 7:00 am
DHL v/s Santos United at 8.30 am
GROUND B
Navelim Youth Centre v/s AVC Overseas Association at 7:00 am
Bombay Boys v/s Don Bosco at 8.30 am
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