MARGAO: A superb first half strike by midfielder Thangjam Saran Singh helped Salgaocar Football Club to lift the 127th Durand Cup football tournament after beating Pune Football Club 1-0, at Panchayat ground, Raia, on Saturday.
Salgaocar made a shaky start in the opening minutes as their opponents were in control.
However, a moment of genius by Thangjam in the 21st minute separated the teams.
The Manipuri swiftly played a quick one-two with skipper Rocus Lamare, who sent in a delightful through ball as the 27-year old finished clinically past Pune custodian Amrinder Singh.
Pune FC’s usual attacking flair was missing but The Red Lizards came close to scoring at the stroke of half time but Salgaocar FC custodian Karanjit Singh left Prakash Thorat frustrated.
Post resumption, Pune FC nearly found the equalizer but captain Arata Izumi was the worst offender when substitute Eric Brown put him on the platter as the former blasted wide from hand-shaking distance.
Soon, Arata failed to beat the rival goalkeeper in a one-to-one situation and later, Fanai Lalrempuia missed a sitter while headers from Eric Brown and Zhomingliana Ralte sailed over.
The winners were richer by Rs 25 lakhs while Pune FC had to settle for Rs 15 lakhs. Bengaluru FC and Sporting Clube de Goa, both losing teams in the semi-finals were awarded Rs 5 lakh each.
Lt Gen Philip Campose, AVSM, VSM; the Vice Chief of Army Staff was the chief guest and gave the trophies and presented the gold medal and silver medals to Salgaocar FC and Pune FC respectively.
Salgaocar FC coach Derrick Pereira, who won the trophy twice, once as a coach and another as a player was delighted. “It is a special moment for me to win the trophy as a player and as a coach for Salgaocar. But today it is more important as we won it in our own soil. I congratulate the players for their hard work and we finally were rewarded. Now we look to carry on the winning momentum in the Federation Cup and the I-League,” said Pereira.
Salgaocar FC President, Shivanand Salgaocar hailed the team for their superlative performance and winning the prestigious Durand Cup football tournament for the third time.
“It was a fantastic achievement for our club. Although we won the Durand Cup twice in the past, this one is much sweeter as it comes on home soil. All credit goes to coach Derrick Pereira and the players who have put all the hard work. With the crowds rooting us we will be motivated to win more trophies in the near future,” an ecstatic Shivanand told Herald post match.
Joe Dias, vice president of Salcete FC; Nazareth Gomes, President of Snows Football Academy, Raia; Anthony Costa, sports secretary of Sao Jose de Areal SC; Dinesh Naik, sports secretary of Cuncolim Union; Alex Dias, Technical Director of Curtorim Gymkhana and Vijay Kumar Kopre Dessai of AVC Cultural Association hailed Sthe performance of The Green Brigade.
Also congratulating Salgaocar FC was GFA President Elvis Gomes who in his message said, “It is a great day for football in Goa. Derrick and his team have done us proud. I congratulate Salgaocar FC. It’s a good beginning for Goa this season, stated Elvis in his victory salute to the team along with the Executive Committee of the GFA.
