RAIA: Holders Nerul Sports Club scored a hard-fought 2-0 win over Ambelim Sports Club in the inaugural match to move into the quarter-finals of 16th London Trophy Inter Village Football Tournament 2024 organised by Goa Velha Sports Club at Goa Velha Sports Club ground.
Nerul SC’s Deu Sangelkar shot tamely into the hands of Ambelim Sports Club goalkeeper Benny Silva in the very 2nd minute of play. Nerul SC surged ahead through Nikhil Naik, who capitalised of an error from Ambelim Sports Club defender Floyd Furtado and shot home past the Ambelim keeper Benny Silva in the 4th minute of play. Semson Fernandes of Ambelim SC saw his try from close push for a corner by a diving Nerul SC keeper Prasad Dabholkar. Off the resultant corner, Vishal Arakar blasted over the crossbar from a close range in the 12th minute of play.
Ambelim SC’s Nestor Fernandes saw his shot from close hit the post and go out with only the Nerul SC keeper Prasad Dabholkar in goal in the 15th minute of play. Semson Fernandes of Ambelim SC again missed a glorious opportunity to equalise but he shot over the crossbar in the 18th minute of play.
Deu Sangelkar made it 2-0 in favour of Nerul SC when he shot past the Ambelim keeper Benny Silva off a Nikhil Naik pass in the 24th minute of play. Royston Pereira of Nerul Sports Club shot wide from a distance in the 34th minute of play. At half time, the score read 2-0, in favour of Nerul SC.
Ambelim SC’s Gary Fernandes saw his long ranger go wide of the post in the 39th minute of play. Jerico Correia missed an opportunity to reduce the margin but he shot wide from close range in the 44th minute of play.
Nerul SC’s Nikhil Naik was awarded the man-of-the-match by Elvis Mendes, former president of Goa Velha Sports Club and representative of villagers of Goa Velha based in the United Kingdom.