TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao thrashed Salcete Football Club 5-1 in a 5th Round GFA First Division football league match at Duler Stadium, here, Wednesday.
Taleigao got off to a dream start as they surged ahead in the fifth minute, thanks to a goalkeeping error by Salcete’s Olten Fernandes who fumbled in his collection that allowed Taleigao striker Pramod Mardolkar to easily tap in from close range.
Salcete fielded a young team with Imamsab Guledgudda and Geetesh Borkar upfront, who tried hard in search of the equalizer but a rock-solid Taleigao defence-line headed by captain Ramesh Palkar hardly gave them chance.
At the other end, Taleigao made good use of the flanks to attack the rival territory. They could have doubled their advantage but Richard Dias headed over twice from close range in the 14th and 15th minutes.
Salcete came close to scoring in the 24th minute but Teresa Dias’ rasping long ranger went inches wide.
Taleigao played good short passes and enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession. They scored their second in the 37th minute after Richard muscled past Salcete defender Royce Cardozo and finished with an adroit placement.
In the 42nd minute, Taleigao’s Bazileo essayed a well-measured cross to Pramod but the latter’s powerful header hit the crossbar.
Subsequently, Pramod registered his second goal of the day with a top of the box powerful left-footer that caught Olten napping.
In the second session, Salcete had a huge task to get back into the game but lack of sharpness upfront was their undoing. They could have reduced the deficit but Geetesh failed to connect a perfect cross from Royce with only Taleigao goalkeeper Xavier Estrocio at his mercy in the 57th minute.
Then, Salcete’s Niall Cardozo’s long ranger sailed inches over in the 66th minute.
Taleigao made it 4-0 in the 71st minute after Vincy Fernandes made a promising run from the center to the danger zone and shot past Olten.
Salcete did not give up and pulled one back in the 87th minute through substitute Jousten Barbosa.
In the dying minutes, Taleigao substitute Gautam Kankonkar made it 5-1 with a neat finish.
Taleigao have collected seven points from five matches while Salcete have four points from five outings.
Meanwhile at Poriat ground, Calangute, Curtorim Gymkhana grounded Young Boys of Tonca 3-0.
Our Margao Correspondent adds — Corps of Signals overcame Goa Police 2-1 in a GFA First Division League football at 3MTR ground, Navelim, Wednesday. The teams were tied 1-1 at half time.
Corps of Signals started in their customary attacking fashion and dominated the opening session. Their efforts were rewarded in the sixth minute when left-wing midfielder Nimi Tshering beat his markers and fired home leaving the Roopesh Kamat under the Police crossbar dazed.
Spurred by the early success, Corps of Signals intensified their forays and nearly doubled their lead but Pankaj Gukha spurned the easiest chance as he shot wide from hand-shaking distance with only rival goalkeeper Ropesh Kamat at his mercy.
Corps of Signals had a chance to increase their tally but L H Sangha squandered a sitter after he was fed by Pankaj Gurkha.
In the 33rd minute, Goa Police neutralized the lead through Rupeesh Morje. Following an infringement by a Signals defender on a Goa Police player, referee Jose awarded a free-kick which was taken by Roopesh. The shot deflected off a rival defender’s head and eluded Corps of Signals goalkeeper Lalruanfela.
Crossing over, Corps of Signals continued to enjoy the lion’s share of exchanges and nearly increased the tally soon after resumption but substitute striker Mohammed Ibrahim faltered at crucial moments after he was fed put on the platter by LH Sangha.
Goa Police came close securing the lead but Abdul Khan shot wide from an ideal position off a through pass from Kishore Palkar.
Corps of Signals had a chance to make it 2-1 but KL Sangha was the culprit as he shot wide from close range.
Substitute VL Nghaka found the match-winner in the 69th minute off a good move created by Budhi Bahadur and Lalrunpuia.
Goa Police pushed for the equalizer in the last 10 minutes but remained unsuccessful as Corps of Signals defenders were stubborn and protected their slender lead with tight marking.
With this win, Corps of Signals have collected eight points from five matches while Goa Police have three points from the same number of encounters.
