TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Saligao Sporting retained their place in the Second Division edging past St Savio Sports Club, Calangute 3-2 in GFA’s 2nd Division Bardez Zone relegation play-off decider. Saligao Sporting led 2-1 at the change of ends.
The relegation decider had to be played after both teams finished on nine points each in the league, although St Savio had a better goal difference.
Saligao raced into a two-goal lead within 25 minutes with goals from Jorex Fernandes and Naveed Sheikh. Ajit Divadakar added the third early in the second session.
“I am overjoyed with the result, it took us a few games to get going in this league, but over the last few matches I felt we have been playing a lot better and we proved that today,” remarked Saligao Sporting coach Bibiano Fernandes.
Saligao Sporting brought striker Jorex Fernandes back into the team, who was on loan from Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim and he provided the spark up front, scoring the first while setting up the second goal.
In the 21st minute, Saligao’s Puroshottam karlekar squared the ball quickly for Jorex and he neatly fired in the opener.
Four minutes later, Saligao’s Jorex swung in a corner, which the St Savio defence failed to clear and Naveed headed the ball goalbound, which was helped into the net by the head of a St Savio defender.
In the 28th minute, Bruno Coutinho sent in one of his teasing trademark free kicks, which the Saligao Sporting goalkeeper failed to hold onto due the sheer pace of it and Remmy Colaco reacted the quickest as he slotted the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper. But the linesman ruled it off-side, much to the frustration of the St Savio bench who clearly felt he was onside.
Five minutes before the breather St Savio pulled a goal back, after Remmy Colaco’s free kick eventually fell in the path of Manuel and he struck an elegant curling drive into the back of the net.
Three minutes into the second half, St Savio goalkeeper Francisco Mascarenhas failed to deal with what looked like a harmless shot from distance by Saligao Sporting’s Ajit Divadkar and it ended up bouncing into the back of the net.
This mistake ended up costing Francisco his place in the team, as within ten minutes he was replaced in the goal by Agnelo Noronha, much to his surprise.
In the final four minutes the Saligao goalkeeper ran to the edge of his box to deal with the threat of St Savio’s captain Francisco Fernandes, but his clearance only ended up at the feet of Manuel and he accurately glided the ball over the back peddling Saligao defenders, into the roof of the net.
Saligao Sporting survived a late onslaught from St Savio to hold onto a vital victory and maintain their place in the GFA 2nd Division, while St Savio were relegated to next season’s GFA 3rd Division.
