TEAM HERALD

sports@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: Goals from Bevan D’Mello, K M Meeteu and Anthony Barbosa powered Salgaocar Football Club to a 3-1 win over Sporting Clube de Goa in a GFA Kingfisher Pro League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Wednesday. Salgaocar led 2-0 at the breather.

Salgoacar took the field with a second string team while Sporting Club de Goa fielded two foreigners– midfielder Ogba Kalu and striker Obiora Anoure – who were subdued throughout the game.

Salgoacar could have taken the lead in the very second minute when Anthony’s flag kick landed at the feet of Augustine Fernandes, who in turn sent in a chip but Dinesh was blocked by the Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper before he could do any damage.

Salgaocar forged ahead in the 10^th minute when striker Bevan unleashed a volley from 20 yards which beat rival Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper Lousigam Singh hands down off central defender Augustine Fernandes’ floater.

Salgoacar doubled their lead in the 10^th minute. An Anthony low cross was feebly cleared by the Sporting defence and midfielder KM Meeteu took advantage of the sloppy rival defence and flicked the ball over the advancing Sporting goalkeeper.

Stunned by the double blows, Sporting tried their best to come back into game and created a couple of forays into the rival territory but their forwards squandered chances. First, Pandhari Chopdekar’s feeble shot went straight into the safe hands of Salgoacar goalkeeper Albino Gomes and later, Stephen Baretto shot wide from close.

Sporting upped the ante after the change of ends and almost scored on two occasions. In the 47^th minute, substitute Velito D’Cruz received a well measured ball from Stephen Baretto and the former’s placement hit the post and the rebound was cleared by Salgaocar defender Keegan Pereira for a flag kick. Samananda Singh’s smart header kissed the crossbar much to the disappointment of the Sporting bench.

In the 53^rd minute, Sporting reduced the deficit through Nigerian midfielder Ogba Kalu off Velito’s well executed flag kick. Nigerian Anoure header was fisted away by Salgaocar goalkeeper Albino Gomes and Ogba Kalu pounced on the rebound. Two minutes later, Sporting were unlucky not to level the score when substitute Vitorino Fernandes found Stephene Baretto, whose shot deflected off a rival goalkeeper’s leg.

Salgoacar put the issue beyond doubt in the 59^th minute when Anthony slotted home off a pass from Keegan Pereira.