Salgaocar…1 Mumbai FC…0
MARGAO, MAY 6
A spirited Salgaocar Sports Club scored a solitary goal victory against Mumbai Football Club in an exciting 24th round ONGC 3rd I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Thursday.
Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa ‘s lone strike in the first session paved the way for Salgaocar to collect full points. They now they have 27 points from 24 matches while Mumbai remained with 25 points.
Salgaocar put up a much better display today with Ekene Ikenwa working in tandem with the half line to take the fight to the Mumbai side.
Salgaocar could have taken the lead in the very 3rd minute but stopper back Rouhollah Samiena failed to put his head to a well executed cross from Cajetan Fernandes from the left via Francis Fernandes. Salgaocar were stopped form forging ahead in the 8th minute as midfielder Cajetan Fernandes unleashed a right footer from 30 yards out, but Mumbai goalkeeper Amit Singha Roy rose to the occasion and parried the ball for an abortive flag kick.
It was Ekene who found success in the 15th minute. Following an Anthony Barbosa well measured cross he flicked the ball over the Mumbai goalkeeper.
Mumbai survived a scare in the 20th minute as Anas Edathodika, in an attempt to cut off a Francis Fernandes shot, saw the deflection missing the target by inches.
At the other end, Mumbai took Salgaocar by surprise in the 27th minute as striker Bashiru Abass Mohammed unleashed a rasping volley which, however, missed the target narrowly.
Goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey came to salgaocar’s rescue as he managed to stop a header from Surojit Roy off a floater from Noel Wilson from the centre.
Mumbai came close to neutralizing the lead in the 43rd minute when Subhash Chakraborthy sent a cross inside the rival box but striker Abhishek Yadav’s smart header was fisted away by the Salgaocar goalkeeper. Bashiru Abass Mohammed punted the ball goalwards but man-of-the match and captain Luciano Sabrosa managed to clear the ball to safety.
The visitors put up a better display on resumption but Bashru Abass Mohammed wasted a gilt edged opportunity off an Abhshek Yadav pass. Later, Abishek’s rasping free kick from the top of the box bounced off the upright.
Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa was a relieved man and had a reason to smile for the team’s success “The boys did their best and we have to keep up this winning momentum in the two reaming matches,” said Bencherifa.
