the goan I network
MARGAO
An inspired show from Salgaocar FC gave the side 3-0 win over St Savio Sports Club, Calangute to clinch the Geno First Division League title for the second successive year at SAG Artificial Turf ground, Fatorda on Monday.
Prolific striker Ronaldo Olveira (45+1), Chaitan Komarpant (57) and Stephen Satarkar slammed in goals to dash the Calangute team’s dream of winning the three points.
The first half saw Salgaocar FC exert tremendous pressure on the St Savio Sports Club defence. Sturdy midfielder and captain Arif Pathan showed vision to feed the strikers and Salgaocar had the chance to break the deadlock early. However a snap shot from striker Ronaldo Olveira flew over the crossbar.
Salgaocar FC had a couple of scoring chances but attacking midfielder Chaitan Komparpant misfired from close. St Savio Sports Club were a subdued lot and hardly functioned as a unit. The closest they came to scoring was when striker Sanket Jotkar’s rasping shot was well blocked by Salgaocar FC goalkeeper Dipanjan Debnath.
Salgaocar FC broke the deadlock in the 45+1 minute when captain Airf Pathan fed an onrushing striker Ronaldo Olveira, who gently pushed the ball into the goal to the delight of Salgaocar FC bench. Needless to say, Salgaocar FC completely dominated second half and started to attack the opponents.
They had a chance to double the lead but Ronaldo Olveira’s feeble try went striaight into the hands of St Savio Sports Club goalkeeper Dietmer Fernandes. Salgaocar FC almost had their second but Ronaldo Olveira’s try was fisted away by the rival goalkeeper. At the other end, St Savio Sports Club tried their best to come back into the game but striker Sanket Jotkar ‘s volley was well dealt with by Salgaocar FC goalkeeper Dipanjan Debnath.
Salgaocar FC’s second goal came in the 57th minute when hardworking midfielder Arif Pathan sent a fine pass to midfielder Chaitan Komparpant, who drew out the rival goalkeeper and placed the ball into the far corner of the net to give his team a 2-0 lead. Striker Stephen Satarkar drove the last nail into the rival coffin in the 60th minute after the rival defence crumbled under pressure after Ronaldo Olveira sent in a measured pass.
With this win, Salgaocar took their tally to 35 from 15 matches. A delighted Salgaocar FC coach Levino Anthony Pereira was all praise for his players after his team won the title for the second succeessive year. Speaking to The Goan after the match, Pereira said: “The players did all the hard work and it was a good job. I want to dedicated the title to club boss Shivananad Salgaocar and his boys. To achieve this second year running it even more special,”
he said.
