MARGAO
Salgaocar FC moved atop the standings of U-18 I-League (zonal) with an easy 2-0 win over Sporting Clube de Goa at Government School playground, Cuncolim on Saturday. Flester Gomes and Ruflon Fernandes scored in the first session as the Greens moved to six points with their second win.
Sporting Clube de Goa started on a bright note as Salgaocar FC took time to settle down .Captian Akeeraj Martins and Harshad Naik held midfield together and orchestrated several attacks in the intitial period of the game .Quite against the run of play , Salgaocar FC surged into the lead in the 25th minute ,Sanson Pereira floated the free kick inside the rival penalty box, midfielder Lalit Tarival headed towards infront of the goal and striker Flester Gomes without wasting no time punted the ball in keeping Flaming Oranje goalkeeeper Sherwin D'Cunha hands down .There after it was Salgaocar FC who dominated the proceedings with better ball possesion .Salgaocar F C doubled the lead inthe 32nd minute .Follwing a well measured cross from Lalit Tarival from the left floated the ball inside the rival penalty box and lurking Ruflon Fernandes slotted past the rival goalkeeper with snap shot .
At the othe hand, Sporting Clube de Goa struggled to catch the rival brisky pace and Salgaocar FC Goalkeeper Antonio da Silva had a field day as he was hardly tested by Salgaocar FC Strikers.
Salgaocar FC Came out all guns blazing after half time and domianted the better part of the second session with Flester Gomes being again at the heart of their attacking moves . Sporting Clube de Goa who were receving end in the opening session and had a chance to reduce the margin but Mosess D' Sa free kick was palmed away by Salgaocar FC Goalkeeper Antonio da Silva .
After brief lull in the attack, Salgaocar FC went into attacking mode and in the 78th minute Sanson Pereira try hit the cross bar much to the dismay of Salgaocar FC bench .
With time running out, Sporting Clube de Goa went all out and nearly scored the consolation goal late in the second half when substitute striker Delbert Fernandes raspinmg shot was well blocked by Salgaocar FC Goalkeeper Antonio da Silva .
The Flaming Oranje collected 1 point from 2 matches .
In another match at, Nagoa ground, AIFF Academy blanked Sports Authority of India 2-0 There was no score at half time .Both the teams adopted aggressive approach and had equal number of scoring chances but their forwards were guilty of gilt edged chances .
Crossing over, AIFF Academy mounted pressure from the word go and attacked from both the flanks and breakthrough came in the 61st minute when striker Amit Tudu bulged the net .
Stung by that setback, Sports Authority of India tried their best to come back intothe game but their forwards misfired from close range . Surya Tirkey put the issue beyond doubt in the injury time .
