MAPUSA: Saligao Sporting Club scored a narrow 3-2 win over Vagator Parish Youth Sports Club to survive the relegation scare, in the GFA’s Second Division League match, at Duler Stadium, here, on Saturday.
Saligao Sporting stand with nine points and are off the relegation list while Valpoi FC are with eight points and are the second team to be relegated along with FC Siolim.
Vagator who have already made it to the play-off round with 13 points, shocked their large number of supporters by going into the breather with a three goal deficit.
Saligao broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Craig Menezes who on collecting the ball from Mario Crasto slammed the ball home, 1-0.
Vagator hardly seemed to show much vigour and focus like their previous matches and went further down by two goals in the 30th and 45th minute with Ajay Diwadkar netting in a brace.
Soma Korgaonkar who acted like a rock for Vagator previously, displayed some low brand goalkeeping in today’s encounter and was substituted at half time.
On resumption of play Vagator seemed a transformed unit and made several threatening moves as well as two goals in the initial minutes of the second half, much to the delight of their fans.
In the 50th minute, Stepelton Fernandes reduced the margin to 3-1 when he deftly tapped in Vinayak Mulgaonkar corner kick while a couple of minutes later Rudresh Tendulkar scored from the penalty spot after Myson Britto was found guilty of harshly tackling NItesh Salgaonkar inside the danger zone, 3-2.
Saligao had just one clear look at the rival goal in the second half however Jason Monteiro saw his powerpacked strike ricochet off the woodwork.
Valpoi hammer FC Siolim: Valpoi scored a huge 4-1 win over Football Club of Siolim in the GFA’s Second Division League match played at Quitula grounds, here on Saturday.
Valpoi played their hearts out in today’s encounter but could not survive relegation.
The match winners were aware of the fact that only a win by a big margin could help them avoid relegation, if Saligao Sporting were to lose their match against Vagator.
Valpoi led by a three goal margin at the breather with Ashish Gawas scoring a brace and Dev Raj Naik netting in a goal.
Changing ends, Omkar Sawant managed to pull one back for Siolim only to see Mohammed Sheikh fire in the fourth goal for Valpoi.
HC Arambol make it to play-offs: Holy Cross Sports Club, Arambol scored a hard fought 2-1 win over Sodiem Siolim Club to finish off at the top of the league table and qualify for the play-off , at Sangolda ground, here, on Saturday.
Having already qualified for the play-off round, the match hardly rose to any great heights with play generally being confined to midfield tactics. Changing over Arambol took the field with a more aggressive mindset and netted in two goals through
Hemant Rodrigues (48th min) and Sandesh Sawant (72nd minute).
Sodiem managed to reduce the margin in injury time through the boots of Sachianand Satelkar, 2-1.
