MAPUSA: Football Club of Siolim squeezed past host Dunes Sports Club Mandrem by a narrow 1-0 margin to enter the quarter-finals of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Mandrem Silver Jubilee Soccer, played at Mandrem grounds here on Sunday.

It was a gallant display by the Dunes side who playing in their debut inter-village match managed to hold their citadel till the 52nd minute, where a fine individual effort by Siolim’s Sangam Pednekar who dribbled past three of Dunes players before placing the ball into the goal. Siolim were in the attack at the very start but Dunes keeper Alison Fernandes brilliantly saved Raghu Shirodkar’s shot from the edge of the box.

Siolim almost scored in the 18th minute through Domnic D’Souza whose shot brushed the Dunes crosspiece before travelling out. Dunes had a golden opportunity to take the lead two minutes later however Siolim keeper Joseph Britto thwarted Shelton Britto inside the danger zone.

In the 10th minute on crossing over, a mix up between Subodh Sawant and Salvador D’Souza inside Siolim’s 18-yard box saw Siolim defender clear the ball to safety.

When it looked the match was heading for penalty shootout, Siolim got the match-winning goal through Sangam Pednekar’s solo effort.