The Hindu : Sport : Sporting Clube pips Salgaocar

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Friday, Oct 28, 2005

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Sport

Sporting Clube pips Salgaocar

S.R. Suryanarayan

To fight it out with Mahindra United on Sunday

— Photo: R. Ragu

HEADY DUEL: Sporting Clube's Edeh Chidi (left) and Salgaocar's Selwyn Fernandes are involved in a fierce battle in the Federation Cup.

MARGAO: Tiebreaker proved the heart breaker for former champion Salgaocar SC. In a match in slippery conditions, Sporting Clube de Goa made its maiden entry into the title-round in the Alchemist-27th Federation cup football tournament here on Thursday by a 6-5 margin via the penalty shoot out.

Sporting plays Mahindra United, Mumbai in the final on Sunday.

Chidi, Nicholas Rodrigues, Bibian Fernandes, Rajesh Meetei and Dudu converted where as only Prashant Jaggi, Kamal Thapa, Bhuvan Joshi and Samson Singh were successful for Salgaocar. Menino Fernandes missed.

A closely fought match but on a difficult surface saw both teams struggle for control. Ascendancy kept changing hands, chances went abegging, some unbelievable, and in the end at a 1-1 deadlock the contest entered the extra-time phase.

A soaked ground, with pools of water at some spots, following a sudden match-eve rain, made the players' life miserable. The bounce of the ball was irregular and even unpredictable for at times it skidded away. Sporting seemed adept in these conditions as the rush of orange and white jerseys put a dense coat at the Salgaocar end. A first minute close call did not auger well for Salgaocar as Nicolau Borges shot wide from close. Chidi then tested Felix D'souza with a low volley.

Variation

On the defensive, Salgaocar tried a variation when skipper Prashant Jaggi took a 45-yard shot, Sporting keeper Felix had the ball well covered but on a wet surface where alacrity can be a casualty that was a cunning effort. Chidi surprised Sangram at the other end and the screaming ball almost shot through from 40 yards.

It was left to Micky Fernandes then to perfect the art. Carrying the ball from near the centre line, he ran in with the Sporting defence in wait. A sudden rising right footer and Felix's stretched hands failed to block the ball's trajectory. For all Sporting's enterprise, it was Salgaocar that had the success (40th mt).

On resumption Sporting supporters egged their men on. The duo of Chidi-Dudu worked wonders. Dudu denied Sangram a high ball collection and Chidi finished the act with a quick tap (72nd mt).

Friday is a rest day.

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