MARGAO: Salgaocar Football Club’s juniors have put in many an impressive performance this season, but none would please coach Anthony Pereira more than his side’s 2-0 win over Sesa FA earlier today, thereby helping them secure a place in the final leg of the under-19 I-League to be played later in the year.
The final leg shall feature the top eight teams in the country. With this win, Salgaocar FC accumulated 13 points from seven games with a game to spare against table toppers AIFF Elite Academy to be played on the February 10, whilst Sesa FA finished their league engagements with eight points.
AIFF EA had earlier already secured a spot in the next round with an all win record in the seven matches played thus far.
On a day when one point was all that was needed to see The Greens through, Salgaocar’s attacked relentlessly from the outset. Naro Hari was his usual dangerous self and kept the academy boys on their toes. At the other end, with skipper Godfrey Mascarenhas missing at the heart of defence for The Greens, the back four were tested on several occasions, particularly through set-pieces.
Salgaocar broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, when a long ball out from defence saw Naro Hari bring it under control beautifully at the top of the box and after interchanging passes with Stefen Fernandes, slotted the ball to the keeper’s right.
Salgaocar continued attacking and were unlucky not to score a second five minutes before the breather when a power-packed shot from Naro crashed into the back of the net, but the ball was adjudged to have come of his hand before he let fly.
Sesa came out the more aggressive in the second half and were intent of finding the equaliser. However, they were unable to create any clear cut chances as the Salgaocar defence held firm.
Salgaocar however, created the best chances of the half and Stefen was unlucky not to find the back of the net on a couple of occasions. He did however get on the score sheet in the 93rd minute off a penalty that came about as a result of Jason being clumsily brought down in the box, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot and reduce the academy team to ten-men.
