MARGAO: Salgaocar Football Club got the best possible start to their Group A quarter-final league match in 127th Durand Cup with a smooth 4-1 victory over Indian Navy, at panchayat ground, Raia, Thursday. Salgaocar FC led 2-0 at the break.
Ivory Coast attacking midfielder Douhou Peirre struck a brace in the 16th and 47th minutes while Aslon Oliveira (18th) and Gilbert Oliveira (90+2) were the other scorers. Indian Navy tried hard to score and pulled one back through Raman Lal in the 70th minute.
The home team defence was impregnable and whenever V Lalchhuanmwia did manage to get a close look at goal but Salgaocar custodian Karanjit Singh proved equal to the task.
Salgaocar FC were one up in the 16th minute when Dohou Peirre finished spectacularly from out side the box after Bikash Jairu put him on the platter. They inflated the tally in the 18th minute when Ashlon Olveira blasted home after play maker Dohou sent in a well measured pass inside the box.
Down by two quick blows, Indian Navy made concentrated efforts to come back into the game and hardworking V Lalchhunamwa unleashed two quick sorties but Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh rose to the occasions to avert the danger.
Ivory Coast midfielder Douhou continued his search for goals with guile and pace after change of ends. He found the net in the 47th minute leaving rival coach speechless after meeting a pass from Gurjinder Singh to register his brace.
Indian Navy worked hard in search of a goal and pulled one back in the 70th minute. G Priyo Kumar Sharma worked his way on the right, relayed the ball to Britto PM, who in turn laid the pass to Raman Lal, who uncorked a right-footer that hit rival defender before finding the net.
However Salgaocar FC sustained intensity except after conceding the goal and in the injury time, Gilbert Oliveira tapped home 4-1.
In another Group B match, I-League champions Bengaluru FC edged past holders Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata 2-1.
Bengaluru, who led 2-0 at half time scored through Sunil
Chhetri (6th) and Evgeneson Lyngdoh (38th) while Mohammedan Sporting pulled one back through Alfred Jayran (66th).
Bengaluru FC took the lead in the sixth minute after India captain Sunil Chhetri intercepted rival defender Gaur Naskar folly and the former beat Mohammedan Sporting Club goalkeeper Arnab Das Sharma with a neat finish.
Bengaluru doubled the lead in the 38th minute when a move initiated from the middle by Sunil Chhetri saw him relay the ball to Thoi Singh on the right, who sent in a cross into the box for Evgeneson Lyngdoh, whose volley found the far corner of the net to give his team a 2-0 cushion.
The defending champions came with stray forays in the second half and pulled one back in the 66th minute when midfielder Wasseem Raja found Alfred Jayram, who unleashed a left footed strike that hit the post and eluded rival goalkeeper Pawan Kumar.
