Picture courtesy: I-League Media

Salgaocar FC were sharp in attack as they accounted for East Bengal Club 3-1 in a Hero I-League clash at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday.

Salgaocar played second fiddle to East Bengal in the opening half and allowed their rivals to take possession for long spells. But the hosts were lively in front of the goal and walked away with a 2-0 advantage at the breather with goals from Douhou Pierre and Darryl Duffy.

Brian Mascarenhas made it 3-0 in the second session before Dudu Omagbemi pulled a goal back for East Bengal with 14 minutes on the clock.

Salgaocar started the match with Scottish striker Darrul Duffy for the first time and he struck a good understanding with Douhou Pierre. The two combined effectively and carved Salgaocar’s first chance in the 12th minute. Douhou snatched the ball and laid the ball on the platter for Duff but the Scottish striker could not beat Subhashish Roy Chowdhury under the East Bengal goal.

Salgaocar, however, drew first blood in the 43rd minute when Douhou and Duffy combined to create an opportunity for Douhou. The last named, controlling a pass from Duffy, beat Deepak Mondal with a deft touch and then slammed the ball inside an open goal.

The hosts made it 2-0 at the stroke of half time. This time it as Gilbert Oliveira who essayed a ball from the left and Duffy was on hand to beat his marker Milan Susak before picking out the top corner of the goal.

East Bengal had plenty of possession but could not translate their superiority into goals. Their best chance was a powerful header from Dudu which sailed just wide.

In the second session, East Bengal came back stronger, determined to wipe off the deficit. But, it was Salgaocar’s defence that stood out, giving little away. East Bengal came close when Ranti Martins’s header sailed just wide but at the other end it were Salgaocar who enhanced their lead in the 65th minute after a faulty clearance from Gurwinder Singh landed nicely at the feet of Brian, who found the mark with an angular left-footer.

Dudu Omagbemi pulled a goal back for Salgaocar in the 76th minute but it was too late for the visitors to stage any comeback.

(Report & Picture courtesy I-League Media)