TEAM HERALD
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MAPUSA: Saligao Sporting Club thrashed Vagator Parish Youth Sports Club 4-0 in a GFA Second Division football league match at Sangolda ground, Tuesday. Saligao led 1-0 at half time.
Saligao started on an attacking note and almost rocked the rival citadel in the second minute but Abhijit’s powerful shot was blocked by Vagator goalkeeper Soma off a Ravi’s defence splitting pass.
Saligao enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession in the first quarter. However they could not forge ahead despite earning four corner kicks.
After weathering a spell of Saligao’s pressure, Vagator went on the offensive in the 28th minute as Stepelton set up Rayan at the edge of the box but the latter’s powerful right footer was parried away by rival goalkeeper Rohan.
Two minutes later, Saligao had a golden chance to take the lead when Abhijit’s perfect cross found Ajay, whose rasping shot was blocked by Soma and the rebound fell at the feet of Ravi. The latter, however, ballooned over from close range.
Saligao finally got their act together and broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after Mario sent in an intelligent pass to Ajay, who bulged the rival nylons from the edge of the box living rival goalkeeper Soma stunned.
In the second session, Vagator started brightly in search of the equalizer with Tukaram’s long ranger going inches wide in the 48th minute.
At the other end, Saligao came close to doubling their lead but Ajay’s narrow angle shot hit the upright in the 55th minute.
Subsequently, Ajay’s effort in the 60th minute hit the side netting off a cross from Ravi.
Saligao kept the rival defenders on their toes and doubled the lead in the 68th minute after Rohit’s venomous shot deflected off a Vagator defender and beat Soma.
Vagator tried hard to get back into the game but inept shooting by their forwards were their undoing.
In the 80th minute, Saligao went on to score their third as Abhijit’s low cross beat past the rival defenders and found the unmarked Naved, who tapped in from hand-shaking distance, breaking the rival morale.
Mario scored in the 86th minute to finish with a 4-0 scoreline.
Meanwhile, at Dr Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao, St Sebastian Sports Club, St Cruz crushed Jawahar Sports Club, Ponda 4-1. St Sebastian led 2-0 at half time.
St Sebastian started on the offensive and surged ahead in the seventh minute through Denzil Novais who slotted past the rival custodian. They played good short passes and did not allow Jawahar to settle down.
Just before the lemon break, St Sebastian doubled their lead through Shashank Naik.
After resumption, Jawahar tried hard to get back into the game but the St Sebastian defence stood rock solid in protecting their citadel.
Shashank registered his brace in the 63rd minute with an adroit placement to make it 3-0.
Three minutes later, Jawahar pulled one back through Milton Pereira.
St Sebastian dominated the proceedings in the final quarter and added their fourth in the 90th minute through Govind Palekar.
