TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Saligao Sporting Club crushed rivals Saligao United 7-1 in a GFA Second Division football league match at Sangolda ground, Tuesday. Saligao Sporting led 5-0 at half time.
Flavio Lopes COMING THROUGH: Saligao Sporting’s Rohit Naik keeps the Saligao United defenders on their toes in a GFA Second Division football league match at Sangolda ground, Tuesday. |
Saligao Sporting started on a positive note and surged ahead in the fifth minute after Rohit Naik’s perfect cross found striker Ajay Divadkar, whose rasping shot beat rival goalkeeper Marshall and rocked the crosspiece before crossing the goal line.
In the next minute, Saligao United could have equalized but Terence D’Mello’s close-range header went inches wide off a cross from Martinho Fernandes.
Saligao Sporting enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possessions and Ajay sent a defence splitting pass to Rohit, who timed his run perfectly but the latter’s effort to chip over onrushing Marshall failed to materialize into a goal.
Saligao Sporting doubled their lead in the 22nd minute after Vijayandra Shilge sent in an intelligent through ball to Abhijit Gaunakar, who beat Marshall and calmly taped the ball in.
Subsequently, Rohit went solo in the 36th minute and toyed with the rival defence as he dodged past Marshall to score Saligao Sporting’s third.
Marshall was beaten for the third time as Abhijit tapped into the open net in the 41st minute.
Just before the lemon break, Abhijit scored his third goal with a spectacular half volley off a corner by Ajay that left Marshall stunned.
After resumption, Saligao United tried hard to get back into the game and pulled one back in the 51st minute through a Jose Alvares spot kick after Saligao Sporting central defender Ajit Divadkar handled the ball in the danger zone.
Saligao Sporting quickly regrouped and took control of the proceedings as Raul D’Mello scored in the 54th minute after working a good one-two passes with Ajay.
Saligao United were helpless and found it hard to breach the rival defence which stood tall in protecting their citadel.
In the dying minutes, Saligao Sporting’s Naved Shaikh drove the last nail into the rival coffin with an adroit placement.
Saligao Sporting are now on seven points from five matches while Saligao United are yet to open their account after four rounds.
Meanwhile, Dempo (Juniors) drew 1-1 with Bhagwati Sports Club at Dr Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao. Dempo led 1-0 at half time.
Dempo started on an attacking note and did not allow their rivals to settle down.
The match came to life in the 30th minute after Hamslim Furtado gave Dempo the lead with a neat finish.
Stung by the setback, Bhagwati tried to equalize but their forwards could not convert upfront.
In the second session, Bhagwati went all-out in search of the equalizer. They finally restored parity in the 73rd minute after Sanjiv Kuncolekar squeezed past the Dempo defenders and scored.
Our Margao correspondent adds — Riding on a strike from Bersel Viegas, Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club edged past table toppers United Club of Telaulim (UCT) 1-0 in the Salcete Zone GFA Second Division league football at Curtorim ground, Tuesday. There was no score at half time.
Areal dominated right from the start and took control of the game. However, against the run of play, it was UCT who created a scare in the 10th minute when striker Daulat Dessai’s snap shot hit the crossbar much to the disappointment of the UCT bench.
Areal nearly broke the deadlock but Lefito Gomes spurned the easiest chance of the day when he shot wide from close with only rival goalkeeper Sachin Ashtekar at his mercy.
Areal had another chance to surge ahead but Lefito blasted wide from close.
Midway in the first half, Areal were unlucky when attacking midfielder Agio Antao’s stiff shot hit the crossbar.
The story was different in the second half as Areal were more aggressive in their approach with Bersel Viegas and Agio Antao combined well to trouble the rival defence with well orchestrated raids. Areal created many forays into the rival territory but their forwards muffed easy chances from close.
The all-important goal came in the 83rd minute when midfielder Agio Antao from the right floated the ball to Lefito Gomes, whose try was parried away by rival goalkeeper Sachin Ashtekar. However, the rebound was tapped in by the lurking Bersel Viegas much to the delight of the Areal supporters.
Spurred by the success, Areal nearly inflated their tally but Mario Baretto blasted wide from close range off a pass from Bersel Viegas.
Later, Lefito squandered away an easy chance when he shot wide with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy off Bersel Viegas.
Areal have five points from five matches while UCT suffered their first loss and have 12 points from five matches.
