Salgaocar take full points

Former champions Salgaocar, Goa, scored once in each half to get the better of debutants Punjab Police 2-0 in their fourth round National Football League match, at the Nehru stadium, in Fatorda, Goa, on Thursday.

The goals came through Eugene Gray, in the 44th minute, and substitute Bruno Coutinho, in the 71st minute.

With this win, Salgaocar increased their tally to seven points from two wins, a draw and a defeat while it was the fourth consecutive defeat for Punjab Police.

Though Punjab Police had the upper hand for the first 15 minutes of the first half, Salgaocar accelerated the pace of their game after striker Bruno Coutinho was brought in place of Nigerian recruit Glador O'Zaire, who was completely off colour.

Salgaocar came up with a good move in the very third minute, following Dennis Cabral's pass to Climax Lawrence but the latter failed to tap the ball in.

In the 25th minute, Punjab Police could have taken the lead but Sher Singh, who only had to beat rival goalkeeper Kalyan Chowbey on a well measured pass from Pravin Kumar, found his feeble shot landing straight into Chowbey's hands.

In the 40th minute, Salgaocar's hardworking Alvito D'Cunha's powerpacked left-footer, off a pass from Coutinho, missed the target by a whisker.

Salgaocar shot into the lead a minute before the breather through Eugene Gray off a cross from defender Bello Rasaq.

After change of ends, Salgaocar continued to attack and could have consolidated their lead in the 69th minute but Alvito was frustrated once again, when his left-footer was brilliantly saved by Police goalkeeper Satish Kumar.

Salgaocar increased their lead in the 71st minute through striker Coutinho, whose deep placement found the net. Coutinho, after receiving a pass from Dharamjit Singh, shot the ball over the head of the onrushing rival goalkeeper.

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