It all went according to the script as Salgaocar SC - one of the top clubs in the ongoing 121st Durand Cup after Dempo and the top three Kolkata giants refused to turn up for Asia’s oldest tournament — scored a convincing 2-0 victory over BSF in the first pre-quarter final at the Ambedkar Stadium on Thursday. In the second pre-quarter final, Tata Football Academy were held to a goalless draw by ONGC.

The Goan club dominated the match right from the start and were in total control of the game. Their short-passing game worked well on the day and they were by far the more composed of the two sides that took the field. But while most of the match was being played in the BSF half, Salgaocar found it hard to break through their defence initially. The Goa team came close to scoring in the ninth minute, but the shot from former Indian striker Bijen Singh was way off the mark.

BSF, known for their counter-attacking play, made some good moves but Salgaocar custodian Proloy Dutta was alert, punching a powerful shot from Kamal Kishore on to the bar.

But the second half started with the Goan club tweaking their strategy and using the long pass to good effect. And a substitution in the 58th minute by Salgaocar coach Subhash Bhowmik completely changed the tempo of the game.

He replaced Hiralal Chettri with Anil Kumar and the forward rose to the occasion. Bungo Singh’s shot deflected off a BSF’s defender and Anil, who had just taken the field, had no problems in giving his team a 1-0 lead. The lead gave Bhowmik and his team the much-needed boost and in the 73rd minute, Biju Kumar doubled that to seal the game. Beevan D’Mello lobbed the ball from the right flank and Biju Kumar headed the ball in to put the game beyond BSF, whose two substitutions didn’t quite have the same effect.

... contd.