GOA MAROONS, UFC, NYC AND INDIAN STRIKERS IN LAST FOUR
In exciting quarter final matches of KIFF league for the J.P. D’Mello Trophy organized by Kuwait Indian Football Federation and played last Friday at the MOH Grounds in Shuwaikh, Goa Maroons upset Kerala Challengers 3-2 while Navelim Youth Centre edged AVC Sports & Cultural Association 1-0 and Indian Strikers trashed Kuwait Goan Association 5-2 to join United Friends Club in the last four.
In the first match of the day, KGA and Indian Strikers started and ended the first half on equal terms with the score level 2-2; before Indian Strikers went on to add three more in the second half to take the game away from KGA. Agnelo Martins and Cheslee scored for KGA while Aiva Sameen and Roy Pathroso scored two each for the winners and Sainudeen scored one. Roy Pathroso was declared Man of the Match and received his award sponsored by Integrated Logistics Company, from the hands of Indian Strikers President William Stronach. The match was officiated by IFRA officials, Francis Fernandes, Tiago and Julio Cardoso.
In the second match at 8:45am, former champions Navelim Youth Centre took one step closer to the final when they edged strong contenders AVC 1-0. The all important goal was scored by Cruzedio in the second half when he latched on to a pass from new signing Sanford Cardozo to side step Vincy in the AVC defense and score past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Alvaro Dias to set up a mouth watering semi final clash with UFC. United Friends Club (UFC) last week had beaten Real Betalbatim in the tie-breaker after normal time had not produced any result and the man of the match was Ramson Costa the goalkeeper of Real Betalbatim and he received his award from Mario Carneiro. Cruzedio was declared man of the match and received his award from Julio Cardoso. The match was officiated by Tiago and he was assisted by Michael and David on the lines.
In the final match of the day, 10 men Goa Maroons came from behind to shock Kerala Challengers 3-2 in an exciting encounter. Kerala Challengers got the first goal in the 10th minute of the first half when Sumesh scored from a free kick . Maroons equalized almost immediately when Ian scored from the penalty spot after diminutive forward Joe was brought down in the box. Kerala Challengers made it 2-1 when Abdul Thuyadi beat the Maroons offside trap and scored on the stroke of half time. In the second half Maroons were reduced to 10 men when Steven Rodrigues was send off by referee Michael for a second booking and when it seemed that Kerala Challengers would qualify for the semi finals, hard working Gaby scored one of the most bizarre goal this season when he back heeled a cross from Larry to level the score 2-2 and take the game to extra time. It was in the dying minutes of extra time that Joe was again brought down in the penalty area and Ian made no mistake in scoring from the penalty spot to give Maroons a famous win and qualification to the semi finals. Kerala Challengers easily one of the strongest team in the league will rue the missed chances they had in the second half. Gaby was rightly declared man of the match and received his award from Tony Gonsalves the ex-president of United Goans Centre. The match was officiated by Michael Dias and he was assisted by Nikush and Francis on the lines.
The semi finals are slated for 31/5/2013 with UFC taking on Navelim Youth Centre at 6:45am followed by Indian Strikers playing Goa Maroons at 8:45am. The finals of this prestigious tournament will be held on 14/6/2013 at one of the major stadium in Kuwait. This year’s final will be graced by the popular soccer star and India football captain Sunil Chettri who is a household name in India and overseas. Chettri was recently instrumental in helping Churchill Bros of Goa lift the I-League title and is one among only three Indian Players who had an overseas stint with foreign clubs. He first played in American Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards in 2010, and had a brief stint with Sporting B’s in Portugal before returning to India.
Report by:-Julio Cardoso
Kuwait.