Salgaocar FC's U-19 team thump Velsao SC 6-2 in GFA third division

The scorer of Salgaocar FC’s opener, Raja, tries to beat a rival defender

Vasco: Taking a cue from the senior team’s recent success in the Durand Cup, Salgaocar FC’s U19s put in a commanding display to thump Velsao SC 6-2 in a Pool B encounter (Mormugao Zone) of GFA’s third division league. The winners led 3-1 at half time. With this win, the Greens have now collected a maximum of 12 points from their 4 outings. They had earlier drubbed Cortalim Villagers and Consua SC by an identical margin, 8-0. The Greens followed that with an 8-1 drubbing of Dabolim SC.

The game got off to a brisk start with Salgaocar’s youngsters imposing their overall superiority and taking control of the game. The defence was very well organised and the midfielders kept the forwards busy with a continuous supply of passes. Overall the football displayed was extremely pleasing to the eye.

Salgaocar scored as early as the 6th minute where left back Raja cleverly chipped the keeper after a great run. The second came in the 21st minute when Klins Mendes played a beautiful aerial ball behind the defence for Naro to meet in mid-air, beating the keeper all ends up. Velsao tried to control the marauding Salgaocar forwards by maintaining a high line.

However, the plan backfired when Lalit broke the offside trap and calmly lobbed the keeper after a beautiful through ball by Godfrey. Just before the end of the end of the first half, a rare lapse by the Salgaocar defence saw them concede in the 42nd minute, giving Velsao a glimmer of hope.

The Salgaocar boys however, were not going to sit back on the 2 goal cushion and continued to attack at the start of the second half. A cross from Lalit saw Munna finish from close to restore the 3 goal lead for the Greens. Harmanjot, then got his name on the score sheet after he headed in a cross from the left to make it 5-1. In the very next minute, a quick break saw Liston smash the ball past a helpless Velsao keeper after being set up by Yamnur to make it 6-1 in favour of the Greens.

Velsao pulled one back with a couple minutes left on the clock but that proved to be only a consolation goal as Salgaocar’s juniors emerged comfortable winners and look all set to clinch the group in some style.