Salgaocar finish in style with Mahindras drubbing

Striker Sherif Adenika in the 11th minute, Joao Dos Santos in 13th, Dharamjit Singh (33rd) and substitute Bruno Coutinho in (84th) scored for Salgoacar. For Mahindras, Abbas Ali Rizvi scored in the second and M Najeeb in 87th minute.

Mahindras remained on 33 points. The absence of their defenders Christopher and Ramesh Rajak, who had to sit out due to two yellow cards bookings, was felt so much that goalkeeper Virendra Singh too felt shaky under the bar.

Mahindras shot into lead through Rizvi who scored off a well measured pass from Bassam Khatib. Salgoacar restored parity in the 11th minute through striker Sherif Adeniken, who headed in, following a flag-kick taken by Dharamjit Singh.

Two minutes later, Salgoacar increased their lead through striker Joao Dos Santos who, after collecting a pass from Sherif, dribbled past a few defenders and beat Virendra (2-1).

The Goan outfit scored its third goal through medio Dharamjit whose carpet drive shot from the top of the box found the net. It was fine combination move by Jules Alberto and G Benga Lawal.

Salgaocar further consolidated in the 84th minute through substitute striker Coutinho and made it 4-1 off a pass from Dharamjit. Three minutes before the long whistle, Mahindras reduced the margin through Najeeb off a pass from Aqueel Ansari.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dempo Sports Club salvaged some pride by holding local giants State Bank of Travancore to a 1-1 draw in their final encounter.

However, the Goans ended their campaign in the 12-team league at the bottom, collecting 11 points from 22 matches and have to return home relegated from the premier league.

On the other hand, SBT coach Najeeb and his boys must be happy on signing off their NFL debut ninth with 24 points and thrusting to the national scenario a promising striker S Ignatius, who scored eight goals in the League.

In a dull encounter, young forward Ashif Saheer put SBT ahead in the 12th minute while Levy Coelho drew parity for Dempo in the 20th minute.

Playing without their injured mid-fielders Shabir Ali, Lanel Thomas and ‘keeper Feroze Sherief, who was given a red card in the previous match, the local team was far from their earlier form failing to find rhythm throughout the match.

Without the services of their four Iranian recruits, Dempo went into the match for win over the local side to take home some pride at the end of the League. However, both the Dempo and the home team began the proceedings on dull note.

SBT bagged their first corner in the eighth minute while the Goan side had to wait till 18th minute for a corner. After concerted move by Saheer and Ignatius in 11th minute, Saheer finally took his side ahead in the next minute.

Collecting a pass from Earnest, medio Suresh Babu gave a through pass to Saheer who sent ball into the net over the prosttrate Goan goal-keeper Vikrant Sharma.

Their joy did not last long for the local crowd when in the 20th minute, Levy, collecting a through pass from Sameer Naik, got just SBT custodian G Manoharan in front guarding the goal. The Goan forward, who had rather fine outing, made no mistake to level matters 1-1.