TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Salgaocar Football Club huffed and puffed on their way to a solitary goal victory over a depleted Prayag United, Kolkata in a 23rd round I-League match at Tilak Stadium, here, Thursday.
M Prabhav FAIR TACKLE: Salgaocar’s defender Augustin Fernandes tackling Prayag’s striker Kayne Vincent at Tilak Stadium, Vasco, Thursday. |
The all-important goal came off the boots of Salgaocar’s inspirational captain, Luciano Sabrosa, who was adjudged Most Valuable Player for his performance.
While the exchanges were fairly even in the first half, Salgaocar dominated for long spells in the second session. However, Salgaocar coach, David Booth will have to work on his team’s flag-kick strategy which was found wanting after his boys could not make the most of the 13 corner-kicks which went their way.
Prayag, played with their backs to the wall in the absence of key foreigners striker Ranti Martins and stopper back Belo Razak, both ruled out due to suspensions.
On the other hand, Salgaocar deployed burly Josimar da Silva upfront as the experienced Prayag duo of Gouramangi Singh and Deepak Mandal did not have much trouble in dealing with the rather unimaginative Salgaocar forays.
Salgaocar created most of their moves on the porous left wing but they disappointed in their finishing with crosses into the box easily cut off by the rival stoppers and goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.
Josimar did make some solo attempts but his final touch left a lot to be desired.
Stocky Carlos Hernandez, nursing a thigh injury, played a pivotal role in the midfield for Prayag and created some fine openings for Kayne Vincent and M D Rafique but the Salgaocar defence, where Luciano played his heart out, was quick to smother the moves.
Playing a quick one-two with Milagres, Francis Fernandes had a free run at goal in the 27th minute but could not find the angle to beat onrushing Sangram Mukherjee, who parried his attempt for an abortive corner.
Salgaocar began the second session on a flourish and their efforts bore fruit in the 56th minute after Luciano timed his run perfectly to unleash a powerful volley off a free-kick from Randeep Singh.
Milagres could have inflated Salgaocar’s lead in the 80th minute but Sangram was at hand to thwart his wonderful attempt.
The miss of the match came deep into injury time after Josimar stole the ball from Deepak and rounded off the goalkeeper but to the bewilderment of the large crowd, the Brazillian shot wide with a gaping goal in front of him.
Referee Santhosh Kumar cautioned Dhanachandra Singh and Gouramangi Singh of Prayag for dangerous play.
Speakar Rajendra Arlekar and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar inaugurated the renovated and refurbished stadium in the presence of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, deputy speaker Anand Shet, MLAs Carlos Almeida, Benjamin Silva, Rajan Naik, Caitano D’Silva, SAG’s Executive Director Sandip Jacques, DSYA director V M Prabhudesai, GFA officials including its senior vice-president Elvis Gomes who had initiated and then taken up the work during his tenure in SAG.
The arena floodlights gave a pleasing, attractive visual impact with one of the biggest crowd being in attendance. The renovated and refurbished stadium conforms to the AFC norms with the Government having spent Rs 6 crore for the work. The major work of laying new turf will be undertaken after the conduct of I-league matches, so that it will be ready for hosting the football matches of Lusofonia Games in November, stated Tawadkar.
