Team Herald
MAPUSA: Salgaocar Football Club eased past VIVA Chennai Football Club 3-0 in the 1st AWES Cup, organised by Goa Football Association and Dempo Sports Club Juniors played at Duler Stadium, here on Sunday.
With this win, Salgaocar confirmed their place in the semi-finals against Group D winner on September 15.
The Vasco based club were leading by two goals through Gilbert Oliveira and Agnelo Colaco at the half-time, while Agnelo scored his second and team’s third in the 80th minute.
A draw was enough for the Goan club as they had won their last match 1-0 against FC Goa.
While Chennai side were in must win situation by at least 2-0 margin after losing to FC Goa 2-1 in their first match of the group B.
Salgaocar started the match well and opened the tally in the 8th minutes through Gilbert Oliveira when his low shot from the top of the box finished in the net after he was fed by Umesh Harijan with a short pass outside the box.
Soon after a goal, the match was restricted to the midfield play for the next 20 minutes. However, the Green Brigade made a few attacks in between but all attempts failed in the final third as the Chennai defenders made no mistakes to clear every danger.
At the half hour mark, Agnelo kept Chennai custodian Sherin helpless as he fired a powerful shot from the distance which finished in the top corner making it 2-0 for the Green Brigade.
As the match progressed to the hour mark, Chennai were seen with urgency to get back into the match as they came up with numerous attacks on the opponents. In one of these, they had almost reduced the margin but Salgaocar keeper Abhijit Das nicely pushed Netto’s strike for a corner.
With just 10 minutes remaining on the match clock, Salgaocar added another goal to their tally in the 80th minute through Agnelo. The striker once again scored from the distance with his powerful left footer and confirmed Salgaocar’s place in the semi-finals.
