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Salgaocar FC registered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Viva Chennai FC to qualify for the semifinals of the 1st AWES Cup, organised by Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons and Dempo Sports Club Juniors, at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa on Sunday.
Salgaocar FC needed only a draw to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition but the Goa Pro League champions did even better, completing a fluent victory. Agnelo Colaco scored a brace of goals while Gilbert Oliveira was also among the goals for the winners. Salgaocar led 2-0 at the breather.
Much was expected from Viva Chennai FC but they disappointed. After losing 1-2 against FC Goa, Viva Chennai needed to win by a clear two-goal margin against Salgaocar FC but failed to measure up to the challenge.
Romaric Nguefang and Netto Benny combined well upfront for the visitors but lacked finishing. That gave Salgaocar FC enough space to work out their moves and the local league champions didn’t spare anyone.
It did not take long for Salgaocar FC to surge ahead. It happened as early as the eighth minute when Gilbert got hold of a square pass from Umesh Harijan and latched a right footer from outside the penalty box which beat the rival goalkeeper all ends up.
Viva Chennai regrouped and attacked. After much probing, Anoop V.C. sent a pass to well positioned Netto whose fierce drive was brilliantly parried away for a corner by Salgaocar FC goalkeeper Abhijit Das.
Salgaocar FC then scored their insurance goal through Agnelo Colaco, whose 30-yarder drew applause from the Sunday gathering and left the rival goalkeeper rooted to the ground.
In the second session, Viva Chennai pinned Salgaocar FC in their own den for the initial period and created several moves, none of which paid dividends.
But while Viva Chennai did all the attacking, it were Salgaoacar FC who ended up scoring another goal, their third of the match. It was Agnelo again who did the damage as he caught the rival keeper napping with a curling left footer.
Salgaocar now await the winners of the concluding league clash between Sporting Clube de Goa and Gokulam FC in the second semifinal on Friday.
