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Pune: Salgaocar FC’s U-19s ended their season and the U-19 I-League campaign in style by routing Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a Round 7 clash played at the DSK campus in Pune. The final leg of the league saw the 8 best junior teams from across the country who qualified from their respective zones battle for top honours.
Salgaocar’s juniors finished their league engagements with 11 points from 7 outings and a very respectable third place finish.
After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to AIFF Elite Academy on the opening day, courtesy a late goal, ‘The Greens’ recovered remarkably to get the better of Pune FC, United SC and Mohun Bagan whilst drawing to Hindustan FC and hosts DSK Shivajians in a thrilling encounter.
Last evening, knowing a win would secure a 3rd place finish, Salgaocar’s juniors set out in right earnest. After missing a few gilt-edged chances, Myron Borges broke the deadlock of a move initiated by the Salgaocar keeper who relayed the ball to Samuel Costa.
Samuel in turn played it to Harmanjot Singh on the right who beat a couple of defenders before sending in a low firm cross and Myron who was lurking in the box pounced on the opportunity to make it 1-0 to Salgaocar.
Mohun Bagan were right back in the game in the 20th minute as they found the equaliser and that’s how it stayed until the 45th minute. Just as it appeared that the teams would go into the breather locked at 1-1, Stefen Fernandes gave the Greens a vital lead after being put through by Myron Borges off a Klins Mendes pass.
In the second half, Stefen returned the favour by setting up Myron beautifully just pass the hour mark, but Myron failed to tap into an empty net. He was however at hand to slot home a few minutes later, after chesting down a cross from Klins Mendes, making it 3-1 in favour of Salgaocar in the 65th minute.
Myron then went on to complete his hat-trick when he calmly converted from the spot in the 79th minute, sending the keeper the wrong way after a Bagan defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. The Greens seemed to be hungry for more and kept raiding the rival citadel, but the young Mohun Bagan keeper pull off some fabulous saves to ensure no further damage was inflicted.
Despite finishing third, the Salgaocar lads won over plenty of friends and admirers in Pune for their attractive and attacking style of football.
