VASCO: Salgaocar Football Club got the better of Shillong Lajong FC to pick up their third victory in this season’s Hero I-League at Tilak Maidan, here, on Saturday.
A Gilbert Oliviera screamer in the 31st minute was the sole goal to separate both the sides in an intensely fought out fixture.
The first half kicked off with the Highlanders making an early attempt on goal. Penn Orji was given the ball inside the box by Samuel Lalmuanpua which the former shot wide from the far post. Not to be outdone by the visitors the home side began to rally via Semboi Haokip and Jackichand Singh. The duo began to create problems for the Shillong defence when they passed the ball to Calvin Mbarga in the 12th minute who was was brought down just outside the box to earn the Greens a free-kick. As Jackichand stepped-up he did well to send the ball in for Semboi who was not able to get to it in time. Calvin missed another opportunity to score in the 18thminute after Jackichand did well to snatch the ball from the Highlander’s defence and made a run down the right before he crossed it in to the former whose header went far wide of the goal.
Just five minutes later, Alesh Sawant took a shot from just outside the box which went inches wide from the post. The Greens were maintaining the pressure as yet again a build up from Semboi and Jackichand allowed Calvin to penetrate the Shillong box whose shot lacked sufficient sting to trouble custodian Vishal Kaith.
The sole goal of the game came just after crossing the half hour mark when a corner taken by Brian Mascarenhas was cleared only to find the Hero-of-the-Match Gilbert who took it on the half-volley sending the ball past Vishal into the top-left corner from a distance of nearly 20 yards.
In the very next minute Jackichand was handed a great chance to score by Calvin but was not able to convert. As the referee signaled for half-time the teams headed in with Salgaocar FC in the lead by the single goal.
The second half began with the Greens on the attack as Brian got a chance from close range but his shot went wide of the goal. However after this both team resorted to a cautious approach trying to avoid any danger.
With this win Salgaocar FC move to the sixth spot with 11 points while Shillong Lajong FC drop to the seventh position.
