PANJIM: Salgaocar Football Club clinched Bangali Sangha Ambarnath (BSA) Cup, National level invitational football tournament, defeating Dempo Sports Club 3-1in the thrilling final, in Mumbai, on Monday.
Despite remaining goalless in the first session, the Greens dominated major part of the match. Umesh Harijan and Pedro Gonsalves marshalled the mid-field with good combination play for Salgaocar FC.
All the four goals were scored in the second session which also featured two red cards with both team being reduced to ten men.
It was Pedro Gonsalves who opened the scoring with a sublime finish at the hour mark.
In the 80th minute SFC goalkeeper Bruno Colaco brought down a Dempo man inside the box and the referee made no hesitation to point towards the spot and much to the surprise of everyone, the Salgaocar keeper saw red.
Beevan D’Mello stepped over and coolly slotted home to bring Dempo on equal terms.
Not long after the celebrations, Clencio Pinto of Salgaocar was brought down in the rival box and Pedro once again added his name to the score sheet making it 2-1 from the penalty spot.
Pedro completed his hat-trick in great style as he placed his shot well out from 25-30 yards which settled the game for the Greens.
Dempo’s Nixon Castanha was sent off for a rash tackle.
Earlier in the opening match, Salgaocar beat Hyderabad’s Abbas Union FC 3-0.
In the semis, Salgaocar FC beat Mumbai FC 4-1 via tie-breaker after neither side broke the deadlock in the regulation time.
In the tie-breaker, Umesh Harijan, Suraj Hadkonkar, Clencio Pinto and Jovel Martins took responsibility for the kicks and made no mistakes in converting their chances. Goalkeeper Bruno Colaco stood tall in between the frames denying two saves with great saves to put Salgaocar FC through to the finals beating Mumbai FC 4-1.
