MARGAO, January 16: Salgaocar SPORTS CLUB (GOA) briefly lifted a match of poor quality with three splendid goals against Indian Bank in the Philips National Football League (NFL) encounter at the Fatorda Stadium, here, today.Riding a crest of success, the Goans strolled to a thumping 3-0 (half-time 2-0) victory. But much as the Federation Cup champions' ascendancy delighted local fans, the dampness of the duel left the knowledgeable crowd disappointed.An early goal by Bruno Coutinho, shaking off an hamstring injury and two goals by man of the match S Venkatesh settled it for Salgaocar against the Chennai side, who seldom threatened the Goans' citadel.A clinical dispatch by Coutinho, who volleyed home from another walking wounded - Jules Alberto - stunned the bankmen in the fourth minute and after the former India skipper went close with another long-ranger, Venkatesh struck for Salgaocar.Inevitably, the goal involved Nigerian striker Jude Odegah along with the familiar buzz provided by Coutinho,and Venkatesh finished with a combative effort in the 33rd minute.The Nigerian paved way for the two-goal cushion with a delectable back-heel to Coutinho, who played into the area. Venkatesh, weaving his way towards the goal, stabbed the ball past Sebastian Netto even as he hit the turf.Besides observing a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for Indian Bank's reserve goal-keeper Felix Edwards' father who passed away on Wednesday, Salgaocar showed the Chennai outfit little sympathy. And after running Indian Bank's defence ragged in the second half, the Goans' scored again with Venkatesh booting his second, doing justice to a Jude Odegah diagonal that left Indian Bank's defence for dead.The goal came on the hour - Venkatesh making no mistake with a booming shot from 25 yards out to bulge the open net.For Indian Bank there was precious little that star left-winger Syed Sabir Pasha did right today and skipper Bobby Hamilton struggled to induce any sense of cohesion in the bankmen's efforts.With Salgaocar skipper Franky Barreto heading a tight defence assisted by Francis Coelho, Roque Periera and Khelendro Singh, Indian Bank's thrust rarely carried far.The hosts sidelined injured wing-back Roberto Fernandes but it rarely upset their composure. Besides two wayward shots by Pasha that failed to trouble Juje Sidde in the Salgaocar goal, there was only a singular moment of anxiety that the custodian and suffered during the match. It occurred in the 73rd minute and it rose Siddi to a fine save as he tipped Hamilton's free-kick for a corner.
