Goa Khabar : Clube de Salgaocar extended their strong run in the Goa Professional League with a convincing 3–1 win over Geno FC at Duler Stadium on Saturday. A lightning-fast opener, a composed attacking display and assured goalkeeping saw Salgaocar maintain control for most of the evening.
Salgaocar struck immediately. Within the opening minute, Selwyn Miranda found space inside the box and finished with precision to put his side 1-0 up. Geno responded quickly in the 8th minute when Umesh Pujar’s long throw created chaos in the box. Liston Cardozo rose for the initial header and then reacted instinctively to fire home the rebound levelling the score at 1-1.
But Salgaocar regained momentum in the 27th minute. A neat move saw Thokchom Singh pick out Shridharnath Gawas just outside the area and the midfielder drilled a clean strike from from the edge of the box beyond the Geno goalkeeper to restore the lead at 2-1.
Geno had opportunities to equalise, most notably in the 34th minute when Sankalp Kankonkar got a free header inside the box but sent it wide. Their frustration grew when Cardozo received a yellow card in the 44th minute for a foul on Isac Zomuanpuia.
Salgaocar came close to extending the lead early in the second half when Pratesh Shirodkar missed by inches in the 52nd minute. The third goal eventually arrived in the 63rd minute when Thokchom Beckham Singh worked a smart angle from near the corner flag and squared it for Isac Zomuanpuia who struck home with confidence to make it 3-1.
Geno tried to push back but were hampered by Deeshank Kunkalikar’s yellow card in the 70th minute. Their best late chance came in the 77th when a sharp effort was denied by goalkeeper Sanij Bugde who stayed composed under pressure. Salgaocar closed out the match professionally to claim a 31 victory.
Elsewhere, at Nagoa Ground, Dempo SC secured a 3-2 win over Guardian Angel SC in a match that came alive in the second half after a goalless opening period. Dempo grabbed the lead soon after the restart when Arnold Oliveira curled home a free-kick to make it 1-0.
In the 58th minute, Beckham drove a dangerous ball across the goalmouth that Suman Lepcha mishandled under pressure. The ball slipped off him catching even goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh off guard and rolled into the net for an own goal that extended Dempo’s lead to 2-0.
Dempo struck again in the 66th minute when Mevan Dias slid a clean pass to Murphy Fernandes who had only the keeper to beat. The finish was calm and Dempo moved 3-0 ahead as the Guardian defence failed to react in time.
Guardian Angel pulled one back in the 83rd minute after a handball by Rahul Rodrigues in the box. Fhezer Gomes stepped up and converted from the spot to reduce the deficit momentum shifted briefly and Guardian added a second soon after making it 3-2 and setting up a tense finish. Despite late pressure Dempo held firm to take all three points.
