Margao: Continuing their winning spree, defending champions Salgaocar Sports Club edged out Shillong Lajong 2-1 and registered their third win in four games, in the 13th round of I-League Football championship match played at Nehru stadium Fatorda on Wednesday.
The defending champions were not at their best but goals from Ryuji Sueoka in the 19th minute and Ishfaq Ahmed in the 52nd minute ensured that the hosts walk away with full points.
Shillong Lajong had lost all of their previous matches here by big margins but on Wednesday they seemed to make a match out of this contest.
Striker Christopher Iyikwobe brought the visitors back in the match with a gem of a goal to tie the match in the first session, but his efforts counted for nothing in the end.
Salgaocar, who had bettered their performance in the last four outings, as expected, started at a full steam with Sueoka bringing the best out of goalkeeper Lalthuam Mawia early in the game.
But while the Lajong goalkeeper was equal to the challenge at first, he could do nothing in the 19th minute when Sueoka, within handshaking distance, directed the ball into the goal after being nicely picked up by Francis Fernandes.
Lajong could not enforce their superiority but there was no doubt that striker Christopher was a constant threat upfront. The striker put his skills to good use in the 39th minute when he cut past two defenders, and then the goalkeeper, to bring his side on level terms.
Salgaocar continued with their attacks in the second session and got the match winner they had been hunting all along, when Ahmed did well to connect Ryuji’s measured cross from the right in the 52nd minute.
The hosts had at least two clear cut opportunities to inflate the lead but Edeh Chidi and Ahmed missed sitters.
With this win, Salgaocar’s points tally moved to 19 and came on par with Air India from 13 outings. While, Lajong remained on 16 points. (UNI)