Team Herald

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MAPUSA: Salgaocar Football club managed to register a hard-fought 2-1 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, on Tuesday.

After Tuesday's victory the Green Brigade have ten points while Velsao SCC struggle with just a point from five matches.

An own goal by Krishna Pandit gave an early lead to the Vasco based team, with Devendra Murgaonkar netting in the second goal before the breather.

However, Veegan Ferrao scored from the spot to reduce the margin for the newly promoted side. 

Salgaocar coach Levino Pereira was content to have Mackroy Peixoto back who missed the last match against Dempo SC and also fielded U-20 midfielder Chaitan Komarpat in the starting XI. 

At the other end, Velsao coach Eban Mesquitta had to play without centre-back Michael Silva who was suspended due to double booking in the last match, but U-20 midfielder Flan Gomes was back for the South Goan club. 

It was the Green Brigade that had an early strike at the goal when the game was just three minutes old. Striker Ronaldo Oliveira latched a blistering strike from the top of the box but Velsao keeper Preston Rego managed to block it for a corner.

The Salgaocar players continued on their attacks, and opened their account in the 18th minute. Velsao defender Krishna Shirodkar saw his header off Sanson Pereira’s corner enter his own goal.

A couple of minutes into the match and the Green Brigade almost doubled their lead, when Sanson tried to find Ronaldo inside the penalty box with a fine low cross, but the Velsao custodian Rego left his charge and brought up a diving collection.

Velsao had the best chance to level terms when their striker and skipper Joseph Pereira weaved past a host of Salgaocar's defenders and drilled a fierce shot from the top of the box which was pushed for safety by the keeper S. Rajini Kumar with a full stretched diving save.

At the other end, Velsao keeper Rego came with a brilliant save to deny U-20 winger Komarpant from scoring.

However, the keeper could do very little to stop as Salgaocar doubled their lead. 

In the 42nd minute, Devendra Murgaonkar managed to dribble past Velsao’s defence line and shot from the top of the box which crashed into the back of the nylons to make it 2-0. 

On resumption of play, Salgaocar continued their onslaught and held the upper-hand in the first quarter of the match, but failed to find the nets.

In the 63rd minute, Samuel Costa sent a floater to Ronaldo but the striker failed to keep his shot inside the goal framework with the Velsao keeper Rego completely out of position.

Trailing by two goals, Velsao coach played all three substitutions Myron Borges, Manjunath Rathod and Veegan Ferrao to bring furhter strength upfront.

In the 77th minute, the Green Brigade had a glorious chance to further inflate their lead from the penalty spot. 

Velsao defender Krishna was caught in the act of bringing down Devendra inside the danger zone, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot, but Sanson’s shot from the spot was brilliantly paired away by Velsao keeper Rego.

While the Salgaocar players failed to score at the other end Velsao were awarded a penalty when Myron’s shot from the top of the box was handled by Devendra in the box. Veegan stepped forward and scored to make it 2-1.