Mahindra…1 Salgaocar…2
MUMBAI, MAY 10
Salgaocar Sports Club saved themselves from relegation in a dramatic fashion, winning 1-2 against Mahindra United with their second goal coming far into stoppage time at Cooperage ground, here, today.
Mahindra United gave a number of fringe players an opportunity to play as Monotosh Ghosh and Collin Abranches made their way into the starting line-up while Salgaocar made one change from their last game as Manjit Singh made way for Milagres Gonsalves upfront.
It was the visitors who started brightly as they had three opportunities to take the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. Milagres Gonsalves’ shot from inside the box was well saved by Monotosh Ghosh in the seventh minute.
The very next minute saw Ekene Ikenwa’s cross from the left met by Francis Fernandes who header didn’t trouble Monotosh Ghosh. From a Cajetan Fernandes cornerkick, Luciano Sobrosa had a shy on goal but the Mahindra custodian was at it again.
It was Mahindra United who went ahead when Mohammed Rafi’s flick from a cornerkick saw Muritala Ali provide the finishing touch around the half hour mark.
Ekene Ikenwa brilliantly controlled and saw his shot miss the far post by not much in the 39th minute.
Muritala Ali wasted a gem of a chance as he selfishly tried to show some skills inside the box instead of finding an unmarked Mohammed Rafi, and off the counterattack, Salgaocar found their equaliser.
Francis Fernandes released Milagres Gonsalves who backheeled for an onrushing Ekene Ikenwa who slotted the ball past Monotosh Ghosh to give his side a glimmer of hope.
At the start of the second session, Mohammed Rafi and N P Pradeep had a couple of long range attempts which were ably blocked by Kalyan Chaubey.
Sushil Singh, who had come on for skipper Krishnan Ajayan midway through the first half, provided a through ball for N P Pradeep but Luciano Sobrosa made a crucial tackle to deny the Indian international.
Muritala Ali had a couple of half chances but the Nigerian failed to latch onto it while at the other end, Luciano Sobrosa sent his header from a Lester Fernandes cornerkick over the bar.
However, Salgaocar pushed on and scored in one of the last plays of the game. Five minutes into injury time, Manjit Singh latched onto a through ball from the left and made the most of slack defending by Mahindra who literally gifted the goal away. This victory has taken Salgaocar to 30 points and has assured them a position in the next season of the I-League.
