MAPUSA, JAN 26
rnScintillating Salgaocar Sports Club brushed aside bottom-placed Goa Velha Sports Club 2-0 to move up to the second place in Kingfisher Pro League at Duler stadium, here on Wednesday. Salgaocar led by a solitary goal at the change of ends.
rnSalgaocar captain Francis Fernandes fired into the top corner in the 31st minute to give Salgaocar the lead. In the last minute, Japanese import Ryuji Seuoka who came on as a second half substitute, placed the ball in for a corner to secure the win.
rnSalgaocar began with a 4-4-2 formation which allowed them to effortlessly break down the wings to set up enough chances to put them in front.
rnAt half time, Salgaocar substituted winger Gilbert Oliveria and changed to a 3-5-2 formation, with substitute Tomba Singh coming into the heart of the midfield. Placeo Carvalho was the defender who moved into midfield. Marcus Mascarenhas was a little rusty upfront otherwise Salgaocar would have surely been leading by more.
rnGoa Velha played a 4-5-1 formation with Clyde Dias as the lone striker. This hardly troubled the Salgaocar defence, who could have been forgiven for thinking they had a day off at the office, being Republic day.
rnIn the second half, Clyde was replaced by Cliff Fernandes, who continued doing the spade work with no returns. Goa Velha’s Saprem Diukar was playing to withdraw and by the time the rest of the midfield joined the attack; Salgaocar cleverly always had an extra man to intercept.
rnIn the 13th minute, Cajetan Fernandes swung the ball in after some good build play from Salgaocar, but Marcus failed to find the target with his header from close range.
rnIn the 25th minute, the ball fell for Goa Velhas’s Cruz Gomes in the box but the Salgaocar custodian Macklas Moraes, came out quickly and collided with him, leaving them both in a heap on the ground.
rnIn the 31st minute, Salgaocar counter attacked down the right side, with Syed Farid eventually crossing for Francis Fernandes who stroked the ball into the top right hand corner.
rnIn the second half, Ryuji had the ball in the back of the net for Salgaocar but it was ruled off side.
rnWith ten minutes to play, Goa Velha felt they should have had a penalty when Cliff was tackled by the Salgaocar keeper and Peter Costa at the same time, but the referee waved play on.
rnIn the 90th minute, Francis swung in a corner from the right side which Milagres Gonsalves had a first stab at, before Ryuji netted the rebound.
rnDempo lead the table with 25 points from 12 matches and enjoy a superior goal average to Salgaocar who are on 25 points from 13 matches. Goa Velha are on five points and must beat other relegation strugglers Faria Sports Management who have eight points, in their final match which is scheduled for January 30 at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
