Goa Pro League: Salgaocar hammer Vasco in Port Town Derby

Steflon D'Costa shone with a hat-trick in the Greens' victory.

Salgaocar FC secured an easy 4-0 win over Vasco Sports Club in the Port Town Derby of the Goa Pro League match played at Duler Stadium on Sunday. Steflon D’Costa opened the tally for the Greens in the 39th minute, while Mark Carvalho doubled the lead in the 47th minute. Steflon scored his second and third for his side in the 70th minute, while he completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute with a fourth goal for Salgaocar.

Salgaocar coach Levino Pereira made two changes to his side which won against YC Manora in the last match. Ribhav Sardesai and Mark Carvalho were back in the lineup. While Vasco tactician Micky Fernandes made three changes to his side following a narrow defeat against Calangute Association in the previous match. Suraj Mondal, Neville Albuquerque and Joaquim Abranches made the cut.

The Greens took control of the match from the kickoff and made numerous attacks on the Port Towners. It was not even a minute on the clock when Salgaocar came up with their first potent chance. Stephen Alvares nicely curled the ball to Selwyn Miranda in the box, whose header went just over the crossbar. Another chance went in vain for Salgaocar in the 19th minute. Selwyn went for glory from a dangerous free-kick, but Vasco keeper Sanju Thapa blocked his goalbound strike. The ball rolled to unmarked Prathamesh Satardekar but he failed to keep his header on target with the just rival keeper to beat.

Vasco custodian Sanju once again rescued his side with a brilliant save, as he made a diving effort to deny Prathamesh’s sparkling shot from distance. However, he was helpless in the 39th minute as a fine corner by Selwyn was smartly headed in by Steflon D’Costa to put Salgaocar into the lead. The Greens almost doubled their advantage in the added minutes of the half. Mark went for glory from the edge of the box with a scorching strike, only to see Vasco keeper Sanju stretching to his limits to restrict further damage.

The Port Towners suffered another blow within two minutes after changing ends. After receiving a short pass from Valentinho Nazareth, Mark Carvalho nicely curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box, making it 2-0 in the 47th minute.

Salgaocar continued to attack and added another to their tally in the 70th minute. Steflon’s powerful strike from the edge of the box gave no chance to Vasco’s diving keeper Sanju.

At the other end, Vasco came up with their first attack of the match in the 76th minute. Joaquim made a through pass to substitute Savlon Fernandes, whose shot was blocked by Salgaocar keeper Jason D’Melo. They came up with another swift attack a few minutes down the line. Francisco Fernandes nicely cut past a rival defender and tried his luck from the left flank, but Salgaocar custodian Jason produced a neat save to keep his side safe.

The Greens made it more miserable for the Port Towners as they scored the fourth goal in the 82nd minute. Substitute Mackroy Peixote sent a defence-splitting through pass to Steflon, who easily dribbled past an onrushing Sanju and slotted the ball in the empty net to make it 4-0.

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