Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Saligao Sporting Club defeated Assonora United Sports Club 5-3 in the inaugural match of MC Dowell’s No.1 Yaari Premier Cup 2016 inter-village football tournament organised by Calangute Association, at Calangute Assocition ground, Calangute, on Friday.
Both the teams began the match on attacking note but it was Saligao who had the first crack at the Assonora goal.
Craig Menezes took a solo run and shot at the goal which was saved by the Assonora defender resulting in a corner in the 4th minute of play.
The resultant corner by Nikhil Naik landed in front of the goal which was tapped in by Sachindanand Salelkar.
Stung by reverse, Assonora tried to bounce back into the game creating a couple of goal scoring opportunities but their forwards failed to find the net from close.
The combined moves by Rajesh, Milind and Prajot were foiled by the Saligao defence time and again.
Saligao could have doubled the lead in the 14th minute but Nikhil shot over the bar from close range.
Again in the 17th minute of play, Craig Menezes shot over the bar with only the rival keeper at his mercy.
Assonora came close to scoring in the 19th minute but a long try by Punaji Kalangutkar sailed inches over the bar.
Trailing by a goal, Assonora began the second half well and created a couple of goal scoring opportunities but were undone by another strike in the 38thminute of the match by Michael Dias.
Hardly had the cheers died down, as a fine strike by Nikhil Naik beat the rival keeper hands down to give Saligao a comfortable lead in the 45th minute of play.
Sachindan and Salelkar scored again within minutes to make it 4-0 for Saligao.
Craig Menezes added another to the score off a good move by Nikhil Naik.
Leading by 5-0, Saligao took the game easy and Assonora bounced back into the game scoring three quick goals through Projot Arabekar, Rajesh salgaonkar and Lester. Assonora tried hard to score more goals and level the score but Saligao defended well to romp home winners by 5-3 margin.
Rajesh Salgaonkar of Assonora United SC was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Earlier, the chief guest for the inaugural match President of Calangute Association Padma Kumar Nair was introduced to the players of the two teams and match officials by the Sports Secretary Marcelino Fernandes. Joseph Dias (VJT Arts), Luis Gonsalves, Ambrose D’Souza, Alex Fernandes, Gajanan Salkar were also present.
