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MARGAO
Striker Devendra Murgaonkar struck twice as Salgaocar Football Club trounced Guardian Angel Sports Club, Curchorem 4-1 in a GFA Goa Professional League match at Rosary Ground, Navelim on Monday. Salgaocar led 2-0 at the breather.
With their tenth win from 15 matches, the Greens soared to 32 points, while Guardian Angel -- after suffering their seventh loss -- stay with 19 points from 17 matches. Before the kick-off, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Alcantro Barreto, former Salgaocar and State footballer who passed away on Sunday.
There was no stopping Salgaocar FC from the outset and it was one of their best performances. They rode roughshod over the Curchorem lads and never gave them any opportunity to counter-attack. The passing coordination and anticipation of the green brigade left the Guardian players flummoxed. Moreover, there was no let-up in the intensity, a fact that was acknowledged by coach Anthony Levino Pereira.
In the 21st minute, young striker Devendra picked up the ball from attacking midfielder Chaitan Komarpant and beat rival goalkeeper Ozen Silva with a clinical finish to put his team in front. Earlier, Salgaocar striker Ronaldo Olveira got the first chance in the 18th minute when he shot wide from close range. Ronaldo scored Salgaocar’s second in the 40th minute, slotting past Silva, off an assist from junior international Ribhav Sardessai.
Salgaocar’s pressing football continued unabated in the second half and they added two more goals to their kitty. But to start with, Ronaldo missed an open chance with only Guardian goalkeeper Silva to beat as he shot wide, after getting a Devendra Murgaonkar through pass.
Guardian Angel stepped up their attacks and were rewarded in the 56th minute when substitute striker Ashlon Olveira scored a gem of a goal with a blistering shot that hit the post and eluded Salgaocar goalkeeper Jason D’Mello into the goal. That gave the Curchorem lads hope of a comeback but it proved to be a false dawn as they struggled to equalise.
To make matters worse, they conceded again in the 83rd minute when Sanson Pereira floated a flag kick inside the penalty box and Devendra nodded home, giving no chance to Silva in Guardian Angel goal. The scoreline would have been even more impressive for the Greens had Ronaldo, Stephen Satarkar and Denil Rebello not muffed chances from one-on-one situations with Guardian goalkeeper Silva.
With the game seemingly done and dusted, coach Pereira gave his key players a well-deserved rest. Satarkar atoned for his earlier miss when he slammed an assist from midfielder Clifton Dias at goal but Silva fisted it away. Satarkar again pounced on the deflection to hit home the team’s fourth goal. While Salgaocar sit pretty in the league, Guardian Angel will have to get back to the drawing board for some introspection after having leaked 24 goals.
Sporting Clube down Signals 2-0
MARGAO: Sporting Clube de Goa struck two first half goals to defeat Corps of Signals 2-0 in the GFA Goa Professional League at 3MTR ground, Navelim on Monday. Sporting Clube played within themselves, defending with alacrity and creating enough chances to put pressure on the Signals. The Flaming Oranje went ahead when Gautam Dias gleefully converted past the rival goalkeeper in the 16th minute. The Signals came tantalizingly close on a few occasions as the Sporting Clube goalkeeper denied them. Trejoy Dias scored the second in the 29th minute to seal the tie. With this win, Sporting Clube took their tally to 31 points from 13 matches, while the Signals suffered their ninth loss and stay on 16 points from 17 matches. Meanwhile, Velsao Sports & Cultural Club held Goan FC to a goalless draw in a riveting contest at the SAG ground, Utorda.
