Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Salgaocar humble Holy Cross

Salgaocar FC Juniors humbled Holy Cross SC, Arambol 4-1in a GFA First Division League match played at Duler rnon Sunday.

| APRIL 24, 2017, 04:49 AM IST
Ronaldo slams hat-trick as Liston makes impact

the goan I network
MAPUSA  

The first half was keenly fought with both sides having a fair share of the exchanges and chances at scoring. However, the scoreline remained blank at half-time.
Upon resumption, and with the introduction of rising Salgaocar star Liston Colaco into the game (43’), the complexion of the proceedings began to undergo a drastic change. Liston with his presence brought creative flair and skills that opened the floodgates. Succumbing to sustained pressure in their citadel, the Arambol-based side began to gradually cave in by the turn of the hour’s play. On the 59th minute, Jason Barboza on the right flank sent a neat cross to U-20 striker Ronaldo Oliveira in front of the goal as the latter slotted home to give the Salgaocar colts the lead. A couple of minutes later, from a long ball sent by Salgaocar’s Sanson Pereira, Jason Barboza failed to score but Liston was on hand to collect the deflection and bulge the net to double their lead. 
Shortly thereafter, the Arambol side had a chance to pull a goal back when Vivek Nail showcased some of his skills, first with a sliding tackle, then rising to his feet taking possession of the ball and feeding the ball to Shashank Ashwekar, whose blistering strike brought the best from the Salgaocar custodian Rohan Sheikh, who effected a good save. 
On the 73rd minute, Liston squeezed through the rival defence with his dribbles and sent a well-directed pass to Ronaldo whose header missed the target. But two minutes on, Ronaldo got on the scoresheet the second time when Stephen Satarkar passed the ball to an unmarked Ronaldo, who tapped the ball into the empty net. 
While rather easy goals were being scored from one end, Arambol’s lone goal was undoubtedly the best of the game. From midfield, Holy Cross U-20 player Leslee Britto curled in a brilliant footer that beat the rival goalkeeper all ends up to reduce the margin 1-3. 
In the 89th minute, Liston’s pass to Stephen Satarkar went begging from a hand-shaking distance. In added time (90+2’), Ronaldo rounded off a hat-trick for the eventual winners, when a Liston assist found him just finish off the job in front of the nets for a facile 4-1 result in their favour. 
In other First Division matches on the day, Immaculate Conception SC stunned hosts Goa Velha SC 3-2 as Godfrey Silva (66’, 70’) scored a late brace at Goa Velha ground. Goa Velha made a strong start, scoring the first goal through Newton Pereira in the third minute but Merkson Coutinho levelled the match at 1-1 in the 29th minute. Goa Velha regained the lead in the injury time of the first half through Franky Cabral but Godfrey’s second half blows proved decisive in the end. In a similar scoreline at Sirsaim ground, Penha de Franca edged past hosts 
Sesa FA 3-2.
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