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Salgaocar make winning start

Continuing its dream run, Salgaocar, Goa, today beat JCT, Phagwara, by a solitary first half goal in the inaugural match of the Coca Cola National Football League in Delhi today.

Salgaocar, who have won all the big titles this season including the Rovers Cup, the last National Football League, the Durand Cup and the Super Cup, attacked the JCT defence right from the word go and were streets superior. They should have won handsomely but chose to relax after the went a goal up in the 30th minute of the first half.

They mounted a well-coordinated attack in the fourth minute itself when medio Dharamjit Singh lobbed the ball to advancing forward Gbenga Lawal, who in the same motion crossed to star striker Joao Santos in the box. However, Santos's header missed the mark narrowly even as the JCT custodian was left completely baffled.

The all-important goal was scored in the 30th minute when JCT forward Hardeep Saini mispassed the ball. Salgaocar forward Alvito D'Cunha intercepted the ball and after dribbling past a JCT defender, chipped it to overlapping forward Denis Cabral. Cabral's 15-yard swerving right-footer from outside the box found the net.

Thereafter, the Goa team held ball possession and territorial advantage and appeared satisfied with the lone goal lead.

UNI