I-League Media Team

GOA: Salgaocar Football Club paid for their prolificacy in front of goal as Royal Wahingdoh FC walked away with a 1-0 victory in the second round clash of the Hero I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Friday.

Royal Wahingdoh came to Goa on the back of their Shillong derby win over Shillong Lajong FC in their opening battle and against Salgaocar FC they proved just why they are already being termed as one of the more complicated teams in the competition.

Jackichand Singh scored the all important goal in the seventh minute of play and once the visitors had the lead, coach Santosh Kashyap got his team to defend in numbers.

Salgaocar will be disappointed that they could not get anything out of the match despite being so dominant. Douhou Pierre, Augustine Fernandes, Glibert Oliveira and Bikash Jairu all missed gilt-edged chances spread throughout the game.

Royal Wahingdoh took the lead in rather fortuitous circumstances. Captain Densill Theobald lobbed a ball towards the Salgaocar defence where Augustin Fernandes should have routinely cleared but the ball fell nicely at the feet of Jackichand, who left Augustin behind and then drilled a low ball past a diving Subrata Paul in Salgaocar goal.

The goal seemed out of the blue and Salgaocar were clearly rattled. The hosts took some time to regain their composure and sometime later started to dictate terms. The goals, though, did not see light of the day.

Salgaocar’s chances were in abundance. It all started midway into the first session when Clifton Fernandes and Douhou combined to send Jairu clear but the last named shot the ball wide. Douhou then picked Jairu again but this time the goalkeeper was there to avert the danger. Another chance fell for Alson Oliveira but he sent his attempt over the bar.

In the second half, Salgaocar were to waste more chances. Jairu hesitated with Douhou unmarked and the Ivorian himself was guilty of not hitting on target when a cross from Rosario landed perfectly at his feet.

In the final minute, there was another chance, last for the day, but Jairu’s good attempt struck the legs of the goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard and bounced back into play.