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Salgaocar FC Under-18s ended their U-18 I-League – Goa Zone group stage round on a high note by beating the favourites AIFF Elite Academy 2-1.
Salgaocar FC finished second in the group behind the AIFF Elite Academy, but above their Goan counterparts Dempo SC and Sporting Clube De Goa.
In today’s battle played at Benaulim both the teams had their game plans set to go out for a win. The AIFF Elite Academy came close when a fierce header hit the upright but much to the relief of Salgaocar FC it was called offside. Liston Colaco of Salgaocar FC missed a few chances as he saw his free kicks sail over the crossbar. Salgaocar got the breakthrough in added time of the first half, when they were awarded a corner kick, Shayne Rodrigues floated the ball well in the air but the defenders failed to clear the ball, the ball fell perfectly for Flagan Rodrigues who blasted the ball into the top of the net, the AIFF Elite Academy was stunned, 1-0.
The second half saw Salgaocar FC dominate the AIFF Elite Academy in midfield as Kaushik Negi and Saeesh Halankar kept supplying the ball to Liston and Devendra Murgaokar. It was in the 65th minute when Liston Colaco ran down the flank beating his marker and crossed the ball to Devendra Murgaokar who made no mistake in putting the ball at the back of the net. Salgaocar FC goalkeeper Adil Ansari came up with numerous saves out of which two were one on one situations. But the AIFF Elite Academy managed to reduce the deficit putting one past the Green Brigades when a diving save by Adil fell on the feet of the opponent who only had to tap in the ball from close range. The match finally ended with Salgaocar FC being victorious.
Both Salgaocar FC and AIFF Elite Academy qualify for the national round, Salgaocar FC being the only Goan side to represent the state at this years U-18 I-League national finals.
