MARGAO, January 22: Salgaocar responded magnificently to the chants of thousands of their admiring supporters at the Fatorda Stadium with a match-winner 48 seconds from the end against East Bengal in the Philips National Football League (NFL) match, here, today.Francis Coelho headed the ball past goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey after a touch of enterprise by mid-fielder S Venkatesh, who sold the dummy to yet another strong throw-in by international Bruno Coutinho with the match seemingly heading for a goalless draw.
The result takes Salgaocar to the second spot below Mohun Bagan while East Bengal struggle in the lower half of the ten-team league.
The Goan side left it late, but coach Shabbir Ali couldn't be more delighted. Shabbir said: "I am very happy with three points. We played a good game today and we enjoyed far better chances."
A morose East Bengal coach P K Banerjee was left lamenting an indifferent defence that conceded the goal and the wastage of the game's best chance -- and East Bengal's only
opportunity -- that fell to Nigerian Abayomi Felix late in the game.
Banerjee admitted that his side's chances of the title are virtually over with the defeat which he described as demoralising. He said: "I'm sorry that all our hard work came to a zero in just 48 seconds from the end. It's bad for the morale of a side to lose with a goal scored so late after fighting for 89 minutes."
Much of the Goan side's ascendancy must be owed to Sanaton Singh, that bundle of energy on the right mid-field, and it reflected in his third Man of the Match award -- a television set. Pity, his exploits have not been caught on the small screen.
For all the pace, offensive and counter-offensive that delighted the huge turnout, there was a paucity of shots on the goal.
The East Bengal goalie Chaubey had to do much more as he denied Coutinho and Venkatesh with spectacular efforts but with full-time looming, the custodian's match ended in grief.
Coutinho, with the crowd creating a deafening din, lurked ominously for yet
another throw-in. The India skipper took it in characteristic fashion -- running in several paces to effect a strong throw into the area.
Venkatesh, amid a forest of bodies, ducked to enable Coelho head past the unfortunate Chaubey who barely had a clue.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
