Goa: Salgaocar Sports Club defeated Prayag United 1-0 in the 19th round I League match, at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. Edeh Chidi headed the only goal of the match in the 21st minute.

The win helped Salgaocar maintain their 10-match unbeaten streak as the defending champions have now climbed to the fifth point behind Churchill Brothers.

Prayag United, with 32 points, had a chance to occupy the second slot but the visitors were themselves to blame for some poor finishing, notably in the second session.

Salgaocar were not at their fluent best, but with Chidi scoring the only goal of the match, they didn’t have to do much. Ryuji Sueoka was in fine form but the Japanese striker could not come up with the killer touch that would have translated some good moves into goals.

Salgaocar surged ahead in the 19th minute when Chidi did well to head Randeep singh’s freekick into the top corner of the nets. The Nigerian midfielder came up with another snap header towards the closing stages of the first session but Prayag goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal proved equal to the challenge.

Prayag were a transformed side in the second session but the visitors were pegged back since Yusif Yakubu was a pale shadow of his former self and Brazilian striker Josimar Martins was unable to keep his attempts on target.

The best chance fell at the feet of James Singh. The midfielder was nicely fed on the platter by Yakubu but James could not beat the onrushing goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

At the other end, Mondal was kept busy by Chidi. The goalkeeper had to make acrobatic saves to deny Ryuji Sueoka and Chidi.

Man of the Match was awarded to Salgaocar’s Karanjit Singh.

By Indian Sports News