Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Salgaocar Football Club booked their place in the semi-finals as they hammered the First Division Club St. Savio’s Sports Club by a 4-2 margin in the quarter-finals of the 15th Edition of Goa Police Football Cup organised by Goa Police Sports Cell, played at Duler ground, here on Monday.
St. Savio stunned the opponents with an opener in the 26th minute when Salgaocar keeper Abhijit Das fumbled to collect a fine free-kick from Pedro Gonsalves which rolled to Shashank Naik, who calmly tapped it in the goal to put the Calangute side ahead.
However, the Professional league side did not take long to find the equaliser as their star U-20 striker Devendra Murgaonkar brilliantly headed in off Gilbert Oliveira’s perfect cross to make it 1-1 in the 30th minute.
Pumped up by an equaliser, Salgaocar took the lead in the 43rd minute as this time, Sanson Pereira found Brian Mascarenhas with a smart through pass who easily placed the ball at the back of the net from inside the box to make it 2-1 for his side.
In the next minute, Nigerian striker Joel Sunday made it 3-1 for the Greens with a superb individual effort.
In the closing stage of the first session, St. Savio reduced the margin through Sanket Jotkar who scored from an easy tap-in from the goalmouth to make it 3-2 for the Calangute side.
However, in added time, the Green Brigade were successful to break the Calangute’s defence for the fourth time in the match as U-20 striker Devendra completed his brace with a brilliant goal over the onrushing keeper to make it 4-2.
