Velsao make Salgaocar sweat for three points in GPL

The losing side just have a point from five matches, while, the Green Brigade climbed to third place with 10 points from the same number of matches.

Salgaocar FC registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Velsao Sports and Cultural Club in the Goa Professional League match, played at Duler Stadium, earlier today. Krishna Pandit’s own goal gave an early lead to the Vasco-based team, while Devendra Murgaonkar added another to their tally just before the halftime. Whereas, Veegan Ferrao scored from the spot to reduce the margin for the newly promoted side.

Mackroy Peixoto was back in the starting XI for the Green Brigade after missing out in the last match against Dempo SC, whereas U-20 midfielder Chaitan Komarpat also made it in the playing XI. On the other hand, Velsao were without their centre-back Michael Silva who was suspended due to double booking in the last matches, while, U-20 midfielder Flan Gomes was back for the South Goan club. 

Salgaocar started the match on attacking note as they took just three minutes to create their first chance of the match, when their striker Ronaldo Oliveira tried his luck from the top of the box with a powerful strike, but Velsao keeper Preston Rego blocked it for a corner.

After probing attacks, Salgaocar opened their tally in the 18th minutes when Velsao defender Krishna Shirodkar scored an own goal as the defender headed in his own goal off Sanson Pereira’s corner to gift opponent an early lead. A few minutes later, they had a chance to double their lead as Sanson tried to find Ronaldo in the box with a fine low cross but Velsao custodian Rego once again came to rescue his side with a diving collection.

At the other end, Velsao striker and skipper Joseph Pereira made a brilliant run cutting past few opponents on his way but his fierce shot from the top of the box was pushed for safety by Salgaocar shot-stopper S. Rajini Kumar with diving efforts.

Velsao keeper Rego was once again tested by fierce Salgaocar attacks as this time u-20 winger Komarpant went for a glory from the edge of the box with a sparkling shot but like last time, U-20 custodian made a diving save to restrict the striker from scoring. However, in the 42nd minutes, Salgaocar managed to double their lead when Devendra Murgaonkar made a brilliant footwork to break Velsao’s last line and shot from the top of the box which entered the bottom right making it 2-0 for the Port side at the halftime. 

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Like in the first half, Salgaocar started the second session on attacking note as first 15 minutes saw the Green Brigade completely dominating with continues attacks but every time failed in the final third.

They had the best chance to inflate their lead in the 63rd minute when Samuel Costa fed Ronaldo with a long ball but the forward failed to keep his shot on target with Velsao keeper Rego completely out of position. Down by two goals, Velsao coach used his all three substitutions to sharpen them in the attacking as Myron Borges, Manjunath Rathod and Veegan Ferrao came in as subs.

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Salgaocar wasted an easy to add another goal to their tally in the 77th minute when Velsao defender Krishna brought down Devendra in the box to gift the penalty kick to the opponents but Sanson shot from the spot was brilliantly paired away by Velsao keeper Rego to limit the damage of his side.

At the other end, Salgaocar conceded a penalty when Myron’s shot from the top of the box was handled by Devendra in the box where Veegan made no mistake from the spot to reduce the margin for his side.