Federation Cup: Unbeaten Salgaocar qualify for semis

Jamshedpur - Salgaocar survived stiff resistance from Pune FC, beating them 2-1 to qualify for the semi-finals of the Federation Cup here at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Monday.

For Salgaocar, Luciano Sabrosa and Anthony D’Souza netted the goals while it was Douhou Pierre with the solitary goal for Pune FC.

It was an end to end game from the first whistle with both Salgaocar and Pune FC going for the win. The result of this was goals at both ends within twelve minutes of play. It was the defending champions’ skipper Sabrosa who opened the scoring as early as in the seventh minute, heading down a well placed cross into the box to perfection.

Sabrosa’s counterpart Pierre returned the favour five minutes later to bring the high voltage clash back on level terms.

In a bid to take the lead for the first time in the match, the men in red exposed their defence and in the 27th minute they paid the price. D’Souza, continuing from where he left in the last match, latched on to a cross from the right flank to slot home into the far post with goalkeeper Amrinder Singh at his mercy.

With the second half barely nine minutes old, India’s No.2 under the bar Karanjit Singh pulled off a magnificent save to keep Pune at bay.