Salgaocar FC who have been in sizzling form, having won their last four encounters of the Goa Pro League, start off as favourites in the ‘port town’ derby when they take on Vasco SC in a Round 7 clash on Monday at Duler Stadium in Mapusa.

Having secured 13 points from a possible 15, ‘The Greens’ have made the best start to their league campaign in the past few years. In the last outing against Sesa Football Academy which Salgaocar won 2-1, courtesy an 87th minute goal from Thangjam Saran Singh, after a delightful interchange of passes between foreigners Douhou Pierre and Darryl Duffy typically sums up the new season thus far. High on confidence and playing with steely grit and resolve, ‘The Greens’ went all out for the winner, where most teams would have been content to settle for a point, after having been reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes of the game. Such is the self-belief within the team currently.

Coach Derrick Pereira believes his boys are improving with every passing game and will look to ensure they net another three points to firmly cement their position at the top of the table. Currently tied on points with Laxmi Prasad SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, ‘the Greens’ are sitting pretty with a game in hand to the former and having played two less than the latter. Vasco SC on the other hand, are currently in sixth position having accumulated seven points from six outings and will need nothing short of a win to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the Top 5 Super League.

Salgaocar FC have been drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ in the 36th Federation Cup scheduled to kick-off in Goa on December 28 and have been pitted alongside Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan, Pune FC and Shillong Lajong FC. With most of the ‘top’ teams confirming their participation in the Durand Cup, also scheduled to be played in Goa from October 29, the gaffer knows the importance of making the most of the remaining games from the point of view of trying out various permutations and combinations.

They will be without the services of their dependable shot stopper, Karanjit Singh, who has received a call up to the National camp ahead of India’s International friendlies against Palestine scheduled for October 6 and 9 in Siliguri. In addition, teenage striker Myron Borges who has been amongst the goals lately will miss out through suspension. They will however, be buoyed by the return of midfielder Gilbert Oliveira.

With Vasco SC having missed out on the Goa Professional League last year, a mouth-watering clash awaits the football faithful as old rivalries are renewed.