NT NETWORK
MARGAO: Needing just a point from their pending fixtures, Salgaocar FC clinched the Goa Pro League 2014-15 in style as they scored a thumping 8-0 win over Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim.
Dawson Fernandes was the star for Salgaocar as he scored a brilliant hat-trick that helped the Greens annex their 21st title overall and their second in three years.
In the first of the Goa Pro League games to be played at the picturesque SAG Ground, Benaulim, the Greens made their intentions clear from the outset with a brisk start to the game. Ivorian Douhou Pierre opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute when a cross from left back Brian Mascarenhas slipped out of the keepers grasp for Salgaocar’s number 10 to bury home. A couple of minutes later it was 2-0, when teenager Myron Borges made a good run down the left flank and crossed beyond the keeper to the other of Salgaocar’s U-20 players, Jason Barbosa to nod home. By the 10th minute it could have well been 4, as both Douhou Pierre and Scottish striker Darryl Duffy missed with only the keeper at their mercy. Duffy however compensated for the earlier lapse by getting his name on the score sheet a minute later, tucking away a Saran Singh cross from the right in the 11th minute.
Thereafter it was all Salgaocar for the rest of the half as they created chance after chance but were wasteful in their finishing. After changing ends, the Greens seemed intent to inflict further misery on Cavelossim as they kept up the tempo and never stopped attacking. Striker Dawson Fernandes came in for Myron Borges and Indian U-23 International Clifton Dias came in for the hardworking Saran Singh. As Cavelossim looked to attack to salvage some pride, they were left exposed at the back. Douhou, Jairu and Dawson combined well with measured through balls and Rosario kept making darting runs on the right flank. Myron set up Jason for his second in the 56th minute before Dawson took centre stage with a superb hat-trick inside the next 25 minutes, all 3 goals courtesy sublime through balls from Douhou Pierre.
Bikash Jairu hit the final nail in the Cavelossim coffin with a scorcher from 25 yards out.
“It is a proud moment for the club to win its 21st title,” RAJ Gomes, Salgaocar FC general secretary, said after the win and added that after the Durand Cup triumph, the Goa Pro League is also a cherished one for the team in the new season.
Salgaocar FC were crowned champions at the hands of Benaulim MLA Caitano D’Silva who was the chief guest on the occasion.
Top GFA executive members Anthony Leo Fernandes, Anthony Pango, Welvin Menezes, John Silva, Arnaldo Costa, Jaju Fernandes, Arnaldo Costa, Agnelo Albuquerque and Sanjiv Nagvenkar were also present.