PANAJI: Sporting Clube de Goa emerged champions of the Goa Football Association’s inaugural state futsal championship, with a huge 9-1 win over Ambelim Sports Club in the final at Chowgule Futsal arena, Margao. The triumph ensured Sporting Clube de Goa a spot at the AIFF National Futsal finals to be held shortly.
Ambelim made it difficult for Sporting to find the gaps in the first half, with Suraj and Fraser doing exceptionally well to keep away the Sporting Clube de Goa charge. However, it was a transformed Sporting side in the second session, who did not waste time in taking the lead in the first minute of the second half.
Llyod Cardozo scored the first goal and then added two more within the next five minutes to complete the treble. Marcus Mascarenhas scripted his name on the score-sheet with yet another brace before Llyod Cardozo scored two more to complete his milestone. By 9 minutes into the second half, Sporting were up by 7 goals. Alton Vaz and Clive Miranda added two more goals for the Flaming Oranje. Lyndon Cardozo managed to pull a goal back for Ambelim.
Sporting Clube de Goa’s Llyod Cardozo bagged the player of the final while Marcus Mascarenhas pocketed the best striker award. Ozen Silva was named the best goalkeeper for his heroics throughout the tournament while Clive Miranda was adjudged best defender of the tournament.
GFA President and MLA, Churchill Alemao gave away the prizes in the presence of GFA Vice-President Anthony Pango, Futsal and Beach Soccer committee chairman Babli Mandrekar, co-chairman John Silva, Soccoro Vaz, FC YFA and GFA executive members. The winners got Rs 30,000 prize money while the runners-up had to settle for Rs 20,000.
