G.O.A ROLLING TROPHY
Round 1 - Match day 3

FC Sparx, Malabar United FC & AVC Sports & C.A advance

Malabar United F.C came back from a goal down to break the hearts of United Goans Centre players and supporters with two last ditch goals to win 2-1 and carry their fine form into the quarter finals where last year’s runners up Navelim Youth Centre who have received a bye, lie in waiting for them.  In other first round matches, youthful FC Sparx trashed Santos United FC 5-0 and A.V.C Sports &  C.A overcame Curtorcares United 4-3 in the tie breaker after normal time had ended goalless, in the 18th edition of the G.O.A Rolling Trophy organized by Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons) under the auspices of KIFF and sponsored by Bassem International Trading Company at the MOH ground, Shuwaikh.  

In easily the match of the day, Malabar United FC and United Goans Centre who this season have raised quite a few eyebrows with their excellent performances were locked in a sea-saw battle that saw some smart saves by Shaijal in the Malabar goal and wonderful moves by Rosario Braganza for United Goans Centre and after Agnello Monteiro scored in the 21^st minute of the first half, it looked like United Goans Centre would pull off a famous win against their more fancied rivals.  However, slack defending with only a few minutes left for the match to end by United Goans Centre,  led to two fine counter move goals within three minutes by Aswad Ali and Muhammed ensuring Malabar United F.C qualified for the Quarter Finals.  The match was refereed by Pascoal Fernandes of KIFF referees body.

 Malabar United F.C

United Goans Centre

Earlier in the first match of the day, Santos United F.C were no match for F.C. Sparx who took complete control of the match from the very beginning and scored through Husain Ali Khan (2) Anwar and Qusai (2).   Kevin Misquita, and Rajesh sparkled for F.C Sparx in the 5-0 rout.  F.C Sparx will now play last year’s champion club, Goa Maroons in the quarter finals.  Bernard Fernandes was the center official.

FC Sparx - winners

Santos United F.C with owner Carmo Santos

In the last match of the day, A.V.C Cultural C.A and Curtorcares battled it out for 80 minutes without scoring and in the ensuing tie breaker, Kevin Vaz, Anthony, Braulio and Ronnie scored for AVC while only Prakash, Joao, and Jose Antonio could find the net for Curtorcares.  The match was evenly contested with Alvaro Dias, Vincy, and Liston Raju holding fort for AVC and Anthony and the flamboyant Kevin Vaz combining well to put the Curtorcares defense ably led by Francis, Zico and Joao under a lot of pressure.  The match was refereed by victor Andrade.

 A.V.C Sports & C.A winners

Curtorcares United

Coming Friday, 4^th May  2012, there will be only two matches as follows:  DHL F.C  v/s Santos F.C   at 6:30am followed by the quarter final match between Malabar  United FC and Navelim Youth Centre  at 8:00am.

Julio Cardoso

Kuwait