Team Herald
NAVELIM: Dempo Sports Club were sent packing from the GFA U-18 League 0-2 by Salgaocar FC in the State semi-final played at the Rosary Sports Complex, Navelim, on Tuesday.
The two goals for the Greens came from Flagan Rodrigues and Liston Colaco in each half.
The first half began in high tempo as the Salgaocar FC lads went for the kill in the opening minute. Shayne Rodrigues was able to clear the Dempo SC defence with a beautiful lob which he sent Divyansh Sharma’s way who in the momentum that he was missed to finish the attack.
The Dempo SC lads got their act together in the next two minutes running down the left crossed to a striker who would have buried the ball had it not been for a spectacular save by custodian Antonio Da Silva.
The game continued to be played from end-to-end keeping the fans enthralled and on the edge of their seats. In the 35th minute, Liston set up Kaushik Negi after a brilliant solo run right down the middle of the field but the latter was not able to control the ball well and sent wide above the post.
It looked like both the teams would be heading into lemon break with a deadlock had it not been for a free-kick in added time.
Shayne stood over the ball and sent it right into the heart of the Dempo SC box for Flagan to head it to the back of the net, separating the sides as the referee called for half-time.
In the second half, Dempo SC went on the offensive. In the 43rd minute the Salgaocar FC lads conceded a corner which although taken well was headed out. Trying to keep the pressure and crack the Greens’ defence, the Dempo SC tried their best but were outsmarted almost every time by Stephen Alvares, Flagan Rodrigues and Rollwin Almeida.
Antonio was called upon quite a few times and he too did his task well.
The second goal came from a brilliant move generated in the heart of the Salgaocar FC defence as Stephen sent a neat through ball to Devendra Murgaokar who spotted Liston making a dash for the goal and sent it his way not before the striker had to dribble past the last defender and calmly place it to the far left of the goal-keeper.
