Margao, April 29 (IANS) Defending champions Salgaocar SC scraped past Chiag United Kerala 1-0 in the I-League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda here Sunday.
Salgaocar captain Luciano Sabrosa made the difference between the two teams in the 30th minute.
Despite dominating for most part of the match, Salgaocar were not able to translate their domination into goals and were lucky not to share the spoils as Chirag United Kerala came within a whisker of snatching a draw late in the match.
The win helped Salgaocar stay within reach of a second spot but much will depend on the other results, notably of teams ahead of them, which include Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
Salgaocar have 43 points in their kitty from 25 matches. Chirag United, who are already relegated to the second division of the I-League, remain on 17 points from 25 matches.
Salgaocar who dictated terms in the midfield had the better share of exchanges and surged ahead in the 30th minute. Man-of-the-Match Ryuji Sueoka, who played a pivotal role, accepted a ball inside the box, beat a couple of rival defenders and laid a pass to an unmarked Luciano who slotted the ball into the net from close.
Salgaocar had chances to kill the match in the second session but Ryuji, Beevan D’mello and Milagres Gonsalves all failed to convert.
