Lone Oliveira goal salvages Salgaocar's day, lands Lajong into worrisome relegation battle

SALGAOCAR SEEMED TO have finally found some momentum in their I-League campaign as they picked up full points from Shillong Lajong at Tilak Maidan today, thanks to solitary goal by Gilbert Oliveira.

Shillong Lajong's lack of finishers up front once again came to the fore as after an initial couple of chances that Penn Orji and Zodingliana created, Salgaocar took over with waves of attack aimed at Calvin Mbarga up front.

Jackichand Singh made a great run up the right flank and sent in a cross for Haokip that could have given him the chance to tap into an empty net since Lajong keeper Vishal Kaith had been caught out of position, but Jackichand could not reach the ball.

But Salgaocar made up for it around the half hour mark when Brian took a corner for Salgaocar that took a header off Konsham Singh and ended up with Gilbert Oliveira who made no mistake slamming it into the net. The home side were 1-0 up.

In the second half the visitors seemed to have lost their steam and hardly created any chances. Salgaocar were not playing their best; but they held their own at the back and tried to make the best of counter attacks without much success. However, it did what it was supposed to do; protect their lead and earn them those precious 3 points that would lift them out of the relegation spot. And that's what it did.

Salgaocar moved up to 12 points from 12 matches, earning their first clean sheet of the season. They also completed 3 games without losing; their longest unbeaten run this league campaign. They moved to the 6th spot on the table, above Shillong Lajong who are (11 points from 11 games) uncomfortably sitting just one step ahead of Aizawl FC who are on the relegation spot. This effectively turns the North-East Derby on 1st April into a battle to stay up.