Goan FC overpower Salgaocar 3-0

Dominant first half performance by Young Gaurs dents Salgaocar’s second spot bid

| APRIL 25, 2018, 07:39 PM IST

the goan I network

DULER

Goan Football Club drubbed Salgaocar Football Club by a 3-0 margin in a Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, here on Tuesday.

All the goals for the Young Gaurs came in the first session of play through the boots of Liston Colaco, Princeton Rebello and Lalawmpuia. After the win, Goan FC managed to climb to the 4th position with 36 points from 21 matches, whereas Salgaocar’s contention for the second position faded after the defeat as they have 41 points from the same number of matches. 

The Young Gaurs halted Salgaocar’s nine-match winning run as coach Norbert Gonsalves brought just one change, Nigerian defender Keita Boubacar, coming back in the starting XI, after the team’s victory over Churchill Brothers in the last match. Goan FC coach Clifford Miranda made a number of changes changes in his starting line-up following their draw against Panjim Footballers in the last match as he fielded Lalnunsiama, Yasir Mohammad, Liston Colaco, Princeton Rebello, Serineo Fernandes and goalkeeper Shubham Dhas.

Salgaocar though started earnestly it was the Young Gaurs that shot into the lead in the 20th minute of play. A perfect cross from Leander D’Cunha found Liston Colaco in the penalty box who made no mistake to guide the ball into the nets, 1-0.

Just four minutes later Salgaocar U-20 striker Devendra Murgaonkar should have levelled the terms but he delayed in taking his strike at the rival goal and Young Gaurs defender Meldon D’Silva cleared the ball to safety before Devendra could do any damage. In the very next minute, Princeton made it 2-0 for Young Gaurs with a stinging long ranger which crashed into the back of the nylons.

Young Gaurs should have further inflated their lead when Lalawmpuia was left with just the keeper to beat but Salgaocar custodian S Rajini Kumar made a brilliant save to deny the striker from adding his name to the scorers list. However, in the next minute, keeper Rajini could do very little to stop the striker from scoring, as Lalawmpuia brilliantly cut past a defender, after getting an intelligent through pass from Princeton, and slotted the ball home from close to put Goan FC in the driver’s seat. 

The Green Brigade once again made a bright start on crossing ends. In the very 4th minute of the second session substitute striker Clencio Pinto was brought down in the box by Young Gaurs defender Brian Faria prompting referee Sunil Nanodkar to point to the penalty spot. To the total disbelief of the Salgaocar squad and supporters, Nigerian striker Joel Sunday -- who is team’s highest scorer -- failed to beat keeper Shubham from the spot. 

At the other end, Liston was unlucky not to score in the 52nd minute when Leander found him with another fine cross but the latter saw his shot hit the post. Young Gaurs keeper Shubham was at his best again as he brought two smart saves to deny substitute Agnelo Colaco from an acute angle, while a minute later, he brilliantly fisted over Mackroy Peixote’s goal-bound shot from close. At the other end, Salgaocar keeper Rajini also made a fine save to deny Lalawmpuia from scoring. 

In the last quarter of the match, if not for Green Brigade keeper Rajini the scoresheet would have read differently. He first collected a fierce shot from Lalawmpuia, while in the 88th minute, he fisted the ball for a corner off Princeton’s powerful strike. 


PLAYING TODAY

Churchill Brothers SC vs Sporting Clube de Goa, Duler stadium, 4 pm       

Share this