Kuwait Indian Football Federation: AVC AND DON BOSCO ORATORY TO CLASH FOR TITLE

G.O.A ROLLING TROPHY

AVC AND DON BOSCO ORATORY TO CLASH FOR TITLE

In hard fought matches played last Friday, AVC Sports & Cultural Association who have made winning a habit won 3-1 against Santos United and a youthful Don Bosco Oratory edged United Friends Club 3-2 in the semi-finals of the prestigious GOA Rolling Trophy organized by Goan Overseas Association (Kuwait) and played at the MOH grounds under the auspices of KIFF.

AVC in finals

Don Bosco Oratory will play AVC in finals

UFC lost 2-3

In the first semi final, AVC Sports & Cultural Association who have practically won everything on offer this season continued their winning streak when they beat Santos United 3-1. Santos United who have performed their best this season, actually scored the first goal when AVC goalkeeper Alvaro failed to collect from a free kick and Anthony Rego was on hand to tap in. Well into the second half however AVC equalized in the 23^rd minute when in one moment of sheer brilliance their hard working forward Anurag Thapa connected exquisitely from a low cross by Anthony to find the far corner of the Santos net. Colaco made it 2-1 when his free kick from just outside the eighteen yard box went past the diving Santos keeper. Anurag Thapa added a third in the 40^th minute to take the game beyond Santos United who tried their level best to equalize until the end. IFRA official Julio Cardoso was the centre referee and supported by Sarto Baptista and Lloyd D’souza on the lines.

Santos United lost 1-3 to AVC

New IFRA official Jan Rodrigues (right) with IFRA President Francis

In the second semi final, Don Bosco Oratory with the arrival of reinforcement from India in the form of Michael Lobo and Agnelo were clear favorites against United Friends Club who took the field without regular keeper Britto who is on vacation in India and Nikhil D’souza hardly wasted any time to put DBO in the lead in the very 4^th minute of the game. UFC however had other ideas and stuck to their game plan of defending and making sporadic counter attacks led by Duarte, Prince and Shehin and one such attack resulted with Abdul Muneer delightfully chipping one over Aledio in the DBO goal from the defense splitting pass by Prince in the 38^th minute of the first half. Nikhil had a hand in increasing DBO’s lead in the second half when his feeble shot on goal was helped in by the UFC defenders and although Nofal equalized soon afterward, it was Michael Dias who ensured DBO were through to the finals when he tapped in a neat cross from Agnelo. The match was officiated by Pascoal and he was assisted by Jose and Jan Rodrigues on the lines.