Goa blanks Sikkim 10-0, enter quarters

Riding on a hat-trick by Climax Lawrence, three-time champions Goa entered the quarter-finals, mowing down Sikkim 10-0 in the preliminary league of the 60th Santosh Trophy national football tournament in Kozhikode on Wednesday.

Spearheading the Goan onslaught, Anthony Pereira fired the first shot in the eighth minute taking Nickolas Rodrigues' pass, facilitated by a cross from captain Samir Naik.

Continuing the attack, Rodrigues scored the second goal for the side in the 32nd minute.

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Intensifying the attack, Climax, who registered a hat-trick, converted a pass from Rodrigues in the 36th minute. His other two goals came in the 44th and 85th minute, by utilising Pereira's pass and outsmarting the rival defenders.

The other scorers were Clifford Miranda (40th minute), Jaquim Abranches (66th and 83rd minute), Nicholau Borges (48th minute) and captain Samir Naik (76th minute), through a beautiful flying kick.

Goa, thrice winners of the trophy, jointly with Bengal in 1982 and independently in 1983 and 1989, showcased their prowess in keeping the ball away from their part of the field for most part of the game.