PANAJI
Salgaocar FC made light work of Velsao Sports and Cultural Club with a fluent 3-0 win in the Goa Football Association’s Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.
Stephen Satarkar (39’, 78’) scored a brace while Valentinho Nazareth (87’) netted the third for the winners.
Velsao SCC made two changes in the starting XI. Velington Almeida came in place of suspended Frazer while Brian Mascarenhas was the other change as Ganesh Thakur had to sit out due to injury. Salgaocar FC made four changes from their win against Churchill Brothers FC. Stephen Alvares, Prathamesh Satardekar, Shayne Rodrigues and Aaron Barretto started for the Greens.
The teams played more of a midfield battle in the initial stages as they nearly took half an hour to force a save in the game. Salgaocar FC's Selwyn Miranda sent in a dangerous ball in the box, but the effort was pushed for a corner by a timely clearance from keeper Presley Mascarenhas.
The Greens, however, took the lead in the 39th minute when Selwyn Miranda sent in a cross in the box, which was brilliantly connected by substitute Stephen Satarkar whose deft right foot touch sent the ball past the keeper.
Velsao SCC came close to scoring from a free-kick but Ronil Azavedo's free-kick narrowly missed the side post. This was the closest Velsao came to scoring.
In the second half Salgaocar FC continued their attack with Stephen and Selwyn. They nearly doubled the account when Selwyn tried his luck which was cleared off the line by Ronil Azavedo, just before Shawn Pereira could pounce on the ball.
Velsao suddenly looked to be sloppy in defence as they let in Salgaocar attack in numbers. The Greens took advantage and inflated the lead when Valentinho was set through by a Salgaocar midfielder and with just the keeper in front, the young player squared the ball to an unmarked Stephen, who buried the ball in the empty nets, 2-0.
Salgaocar scored their third when Ribhav sent a floated to Valentinho Nazareth, who beat the offside trap and kept his composure in front of the keeper as he was one-on with Presely. Valentinho slowly rolled the ball past the onrushing keeper for the team's third.
