Team Herald
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MAPUSA: New entrants Clube de Salgaocar registered a fluent 3-1 win over Cortalim Villagers Social Welfare Sports Club in the Goa Professional Super League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Sunday.
Clube de Salgaocar fighting for the GPL title kept their opponents pinned inside their own territory for major part of the first session.
If not for Cortalim Villagers SWSC goalkeeper Francis Vincent the score sheet would have read differently.
Early at the start of the match he brought a brilliant save from Wendell Coelho strike from close.
Cortalim Villagers SWSC came close in opening their account in the 14th minute, but it was Clube Salgaocar’s custodian Sanij Bugde who brought back to back saves to deny U-21 Michael Dias and Norman Dias shots.
In the 20th minute, Cortalim Villagers SWSC’s custodian Francis Vincent brought down Clube Salgaocar’s Akeraj Martin’s just inside the 18-yard box prompting Referee Jan Rodrigues to point to the dreaded spot.
Clube Salgaocar’s teammates could not believe when goalkeeper Francis collected Pratesh Shirodkar spot kick with a full stretched diving save.
Once again, Francis came to his team’s rescue as he came with an excellent save to collect a superb placement from Akeraj.
Finally in the 40th minute, Clube Salgaocar’s defender U-21 Reezvon Fernandes scorching left footer came off the horizontal bar to unmarked Pratesh Shirodkar who fired his shot into the back of the nylons, 1-0.
In the stoppage time, Cortalim Villagers SWSC’s custodian Francis was back in action as he paired Mevzen Oliveira curling shot to safety and two minutes later tipped Boinao Singh tap off a corner over the crossbar.
On crossing ends, Clube Salgaocar had two more close strikes at the rival goal but Boinao Singh and Reezvon Fernandes shots came off the horizontal bar.
However, in the 68th minute, Clube Salgaocar’s Meuton Fernandes doubled his team lead from an acute angle, 2-0.
Cortalim Villagers SWSC caught Clube Salgaocar’s defence napping in the 78th minute when S Navaneeth guided Shario Gomes cross into the goal, 2-1.
Four minutes later, Cortalim Villagers almost equalised but Clube Salgaocar’s custodian Sanij Bugde flung to his left to pair Ashnoy Gomes curling shot entering the far corner of the goal.When it looked Cortalim Villagers SWSC would collect a point with a draw Clube Salgaocar’s Royal Oliveira scored after Royson Colaco’s shot was blocked by keeper Francis, 3-1.