Salgaocar FC overcame Sporting Clube de Goa 2-0 in Round 4 of the Hero I-League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday. Salgaocar led 1-0 at the interval.

Sporting Goa dominated possession and had far more chances on goal, but Salgaocar proved more critical in the final third to come away with the three points.

Sporting Goa had Victorino Fernandes out injured, while new signings Miguel Garcia and Brandon Fernandes were suffering slight injuries which prevented them from making their debuts for the club. Right back Clemente Joseph was suspended, which gave an opportunity for Keenan Almeida to come into the starting eleven.

Salgaocar also had key players out injured and gave youngster Aslon Oliveira an opportunity to shine. Scottish striker Daryl Duffy who is coming back from injury came on as a late substitute.

Salgaocar took the lead deep into injury time of the first half when Gilbert Oliviera played a clever corner to Francis Kasonde who rolled the ball into the path of Bikash Jairu to stab home from close.

Sporting Goa enjoyed a super spell in the second where they could have netted half a dozen times. Pratesh Shirodkar crossed into the danger area, but Boima Karpeh’s took a reflexive lunge and swipe at the ball which cannoned back of the post.

Moments later, Boima tried to take the ball on himself as he waltzed past his marker but was met with equal intent by the Salgaocar custodian Subrata Paul who forced a corner.

Sporting Goa continued the fantastic momentum with Ogba Kalu releasing substitute Don Bosco Fernandes with a pearl of a pass, but Don hesitated for a moment which allowed the Salgaocar goalkeeper half a second extra to get down and make his body big to block the shot.

Then came the moment when Sporting Goa knew it was not going to be their afternoon. The ball fell to substitute Sumit Passi who tried to pull the ball past the goalkeeper, but this time Subrata spun his web and the ball stuck to his gloves.

With eleven minutes to go, Sporting Goa defender Joyner Lourenco who was under extreme pressure from a Salgaocar attacker played a bouncing ball back to the goalkeeper, but as Ravi Kumar went to tame it and bring it under control the ball bobbled and slipped under his leg and into the back of the net.

It was a case of missed chances for Sporting Goa, who will no doubt be disappointed with the way they lost out after dominating for large chunks of the game.

Salgaocar’s goal scorer Bikash Jairu was adjudged the Hero of the Match, which was presented to him by the India assistant coach Savio Medeira. New India coach Stephen Constantine was watching on from the VIP box.