Necio Fernandes Shines as Goa Seals Dramatic Santosh Trophy Final Berth

Goa staged a remarkable comeback to secure their place in the Santosh Trophy final, defeating Manipur in an exhilarating encounter at the Golden Jubilee Stadium. Necio Fernandes emerged as the hero for Goa with two crucial goals, while Ngangbam Pacha Singh’s opener for Manipur set the stage for a thrilling contest.

The match began with high intensity, witnessing early chances for both sides as Lloyd Cardozo and Sanathoi Meetei tested the opposition goalkeepers. Manipur took the lead through Ngangbam Pacha Singh’s long-range strike, leaving Goa’s Antonio Dylan Inacio da Silva stunned.

Following a change of ends, Goa displayed immense determination to find the equalizer, eventually leveling the score in injury time thanks to Necio Maristo Fernandes’ acrobatic finish. The game transitioned into extra time, where Fernandes struck once again to seal the victory for Goa amidst a tense atmosphere.

Services, on the other hand, secured their spot in the final by overcoming Mizoram in a hard-fought encounter. Goals from Rahul Ramakrishnan and Bikash Thapa guided Services past a resilient Mizoram side, setting up a thrilling final clash with Goa.

The Golden Jubilee Stadium witnessed moments of brilliance and tension as the Santosh Trophy semifinals unfolded, with both matches showcasing the passion and skill of the teams vying for a spot in the prestigious final.