Team Herald
MARGAO: Salgaocar FC’s juniors emulated the feat achieved by the U-18 team only a couple of days ago as they became the first of two teams to qualify for the final leg of the Under-15 Youth League from the Goa zonal leg courtesy a fine 2-0 win over Dempo Sports Club, at the SAG ground, Assolna, on Monday.
Both the goals were scored in the first half by Frezer Gomes. By virtue of this win, The Greens have accumulated 11 points from five matches and will play Sporting Clube de Goa in their final league game, who are in second place with six points.
Salgaocar juniors started with intent and purpose and won a corner as early as the second minute of play. The delivery was whipped in by Aaron Barreto and Riston Colaco let fly from the edge of the box but the numerous white shirts in the box ensure the ball was blocked and cleared to safety.
The Greens didn’t have to wait long though as inside the first five minutes, Chaitan Komarpant smartly stole the ball around the centre line and released Levy Pereira on the left. Levy carried the ball a good 20 yards and squared to Frezer, who was lurking in the box, the latter finishing in style with his left foot.
Five minutes, Salgaocar were two up. This time round it was Chaitan and Hening Pereira, who combined well of the left. Hening sent in a measured cross to pick out Larryl Mascarenhas, who very unselfishly laid off for Frezer, who used his presence of mind to take a shot on the bounce that found the back of the net leaving Churchill Carvalho in the Dempo SC goal with absolutely no chance.
A few minutes later, it could have got worse for The Golden Eagles as Frezer was once again in the thick of action and his powerful shot brought out the best in Churchill after being set up by Ribhav Sardesai.
Dempo SC did settle down thereafter and could have reduced the margin as Malcolm Gonsalves made a good strong run down the right and sent in a teasing ball into a dangerous area but Boris D’Mello failed to make any connection with only the Salgaocar goalkeeper Antonio Dylan D’Silva at his mercy. Minutes later, another good cross by Malcolm saw Lincol Colaco lay the ball for Aaron Alvares, who had a really good crack at goal with his left foot, Dylan doing brilliantly under the Salgaocar bar to tip the ball over.
After the change of ends, Dempo SC came out looking to reduce the deficit and did go close in the 55th minute but Dylan was quickly off his line to thwart Malcolm. Malcolm was played through again by Aaron in the 67th minute, this time round his effort from inside the box coming off the uptight and rebounding back into play before the danger was averted by Hening in the Salgaocar defence.
With a quarter of an hour to play Dempo SC did create another chance as Jovin D’Mello played the ball for Boris on the right who whipped in a fine delivery, only for substitute Joybert Almeida to volley over.
With four minutes of normal time remaining Salgaocar could have made it three, Chaitan played a great ball over the top, Levy who shrugged off the challenge from two Dempo defenders but faltered in the final execution.
