DULER: Goan Football Club eased past Salgaocar Football Club 3-0 in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Liston Colaco, Princeton Rebello and Lalawmpuia scored for the Junior Gaurs in the first session.
With this win, Goan FC managed to climb to the 4th position with 36 points from 21 matches, whereas Salgaocar lost their runners-up hopes as they have 41 points from the same number of matches while Salgaocar FC’s defeat helped Dempo Sports Club to become the runners-up of the GPL with a match in hand.
Salgaocar who had registered nine consecutive victories had only one change as their Nigerian defender Keita Boubacar was back in the starting XI, after missing out in a 5-2 win over Churchill Brothers in the last match, whereas, Goan FC’s coach Clifford Miranda made changes following their draw against Panjim Footballers in the last match as Lalnunsiama, Yasir Mohammad, Liston Colaco, Princeton Rebello, Serineo Fernandes and goalkeeper Shubham Dhas made it to the team.
Salgaocar started the match on an attacking note but as match progressed, it was restricted to midfield play which ended with a goal from Goan side in the 20th minutes as a perfect cross from Leander D’Cunha found Liston in the box who made no mistake to guide the ball in the net to make it 1-0 for the junior Gaurs.
A few minutes later, Salgaocar U-20 striker Devendra Murgaonkar was in the commanding position to level the terms but Goan defender Meldon D’Silva cleared the danger before the U-20 lad could pull the trigger in an open goal.
A very next minute, Princeton made it 2-0 for Goan FC with superb long ranger which entered the top corner. They had a great opportunity to further inflate their lead when Lalawmpuia was left with just keeper to beat but Salgaocar custodian S. Rajini Kumar made a brilliant save to deny the striker.
However, in the next minute, keeper Rajini could not stop the striker from scoring as Lalawmpuia brilliantly cut past a defender after getting a pin-point perfect through pass from Princeton and slotted the ball home from close to put Goan FC on the driver seat.
Like in the first session, Salgaocar started on an attacking note and had the golden opportunity in the 4th minute of the second session when their substitute striker Clencio Pinto was brought down in the box by Goan FC defender Brian Faria to give away the penalty kick but Salgaocar’s Nigerian striker Joel Sunday who scored a brace in the last match failed to beat keeper from the spot.
At the other end, Liston was unlucky not to score in the 52nd minute when Leander’s found him with another fine cross but the latter saw his shot hit the post.
Young Gaurs keeper Shubham was at his best again as he once again came with superb save to deny substitute Agnelo Colaco from the acute angle, while a minute later he brilliantly fisted over Mackroy Peixote’s goal bound shot from close.
Salgaocar FC’s keeper Rajini also made a fine save to deny Lalawmpuia from further inflating the lead.
In the last quarter of the match, Green Brigade keeper Rajini twice rescued his side to limit the damage as first he brilliantly collected a fierce shot from Lalawmpuia, while in the 88th minute, he fisted the ball for a corner to stop Princeton’s powerful strike.
