AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: Salgoacar FC halted AIFF Elite academy’s impeccable seven-match winning streak in the U-19 I-League played at Cuncolim Ground, Goa. In the process, Salgaocar booked their berth in the final round. The AIFF Elite Academy had much earlier, earned their ticket to the final round.

Fuelled by wall of noise supplied by the supporters pushing their boat towards the way to the final round after thrashing SESA FA 2-0, Salgoacar FC barrelled into the AIFF defence early on, an effort that nearly brought a reward, only for Naro Hari to place it into the hands of the AIFF keeper Arshdeep Singh.

It did not take long for the AIFF boys to take charge of the proceedings. However, Salgoacar’s saviour Chinmay Behera needed all his agility on the quarter-hour mark to divert Hayden Fernandes venomous effort over the cross bar.

Chinmay Behera  went on to make a similar save after Daniel Lalhlimpuia escaped his marker, only to latch on to Robinson Singh’s delightful ball. Some last-ditch defending by Raja Rawat was required to block a Daniel Lalhlimpuia.  

Late in the half, a misunderstanding between the Salgaocar defence and Goalkeeper found AIFF’s Rakesh Oram unmarked but the winger’s effort agonisingly went wide.

Changing over, AIFF were quicker off the blocks. Rakesh Oram burst into the penalty area and Daniel Lalhlimpuia’s feather touch even found Hayden Fernandes in a one to one situation with the keeper but a rock solid Behera, a former AIFF Academy cadet denied a certain goal.