Salgaocar rout Viva, go top

Salgaocar rout Viva, go top
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MARGAO, FEB 13
Man-of-the-match Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu  struck a brace to magically help Salgaocar Sports Club script a fluent 4-0 win over Viva Kerala in round 14 of fourth I-League, at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
Salgaocar led 2-0 at the breather. This is the tenth win for Salgaocar, which had earlier defeated Viva Kerala 3-0 in the first leg. They are now perched comfortably at the top of the table and have 31 points displacing East Bengal to the second spot on a healthy goal average while Viva Kerala suffered their ninth defeat and have eight points from the same number of encounters.
Salgaocar started off in the attack and by setting a fast pace, they tried to unsettle their rivals. The visitors, unable to keep up with their pace, saw their citadel come under a barrage of raids from the rival strikers. They were lucky to concede two goals in the first half.
Earlier in the eighth minute, Viva Kerala were unlucky when striker Felix Chumaokwu hoodwinked a rival defender. However, Salgaocar defender Govin Singh tried to thwart danger, but luckily his clearance missed his own goal much to the relief of the Salgaocar supporters.
After the initial scare, Salgaocar regrouped quickly but midfielder Francis Fernandes wasted a gilt edged chance with only Viva’s keeper Shahinlal Melroy to beat but he shot wide, much to the disbelief of the Salgaocar supporters off a pass from Jaspal Parmar.
At the other end, Kerala had a chance to break the deadlock but striker Felix’s rasping shot was well taken care of by Salgaocar keeper Karanjit Singh.
Salgaocar continued their attacks as Francis Fernandes set up a chip for substitute James Singh. The Manipuri headed out an open goal in the 25th minute.
Salgaocar opened the scoring in the 34th minute through veteran Yusif Yakubu. Following a flag kick taken by Japanese import Ryuji Sueoka, Kerala stopper back  Sajesh P and goalkeeper Meloy’s misunderstanding saw veteran striker Yusif Yakubu   gently come in and push the ball in much to the delight of the Salgaocar supporters.
Salgaocar doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Japanese striker Ryuji Sueoka beautifully flicked the ball past the rival keeper in swift action off a pass from Francis Fernandes from the left.
But after the change of ends, Salgaocar continued to enjoy a lion share of exchanges with a flurry of attacks. Veteran striker Yakubu Yusif hit a second time in the 66th minute when Yusif Yakubu  outpaced Kerala defender Chinta Chandrashekar but hit his legs and eluded the rival keeper to give his team a 3-0 cushion.
Salgaocar apparently took their feet off the paddle but V B Murugappan was the main culprit as he squandered an open chance from five yards off a deflection from rival keeper and later substitute Sabeeth C S who failed to beat the Salgaocar keeper in a one-to-one situation.
Substitute Ekene M Ikenwa rounded off the tally in injury time, off a pass from Francis Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Salgaocar’s keeper Karanjit Singh, striker Yakubu Yusif and Viva Kerala  stopper back Sajesh P, international N P Pradeep were subjected to a dope test carried out by the AIIF dope test committee.
Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa was glad. “I congratulate each and every player for the commitment and dedication they displayed in the league. The boys have proved that they are champions. The result was quite expected as the boys have the potential to beat those in business,” stated Bencherifa.
He is now looking to take the momentum in their home away match against Chirag United in Kolkata.
“Chirag is a good team and we have fully prepared to challenge the Kolkata outfit and I hope my boys will repeat their performance in that encounter too,” Bencherifa concluded.