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Salgaocar win Super Cup

D. Mengle

Durand Cup and National Football League champions Salgaocar (Goa) lifted the Coca Cola Super Cup, beating last year's Federation Cup champions Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal in Delhi today.

Both the teams strove for early ascendancy and made forays into each other's territory, but it was Salgaocar's attacks which were more threatening.

Salgaocar, who had won the Durand Cup on Saturday, beating mighty East Bengal 3-2 in the final, launched their charge in the 15th minute of the first half when Habib's swerving shot went over the crossbar.

Again in the 25th minute they had a chance to go ahead, but Dharamjit's right-footer off Alvito's flag-kick sailed just over.

All this while Bagan were pedestrain and failed to make an impression on the Salgaocar defence. They had a chance to score in the 31st minute, but Dipendu Biswas headed wide from a cross by Abdul Khaleque.

But that was perhaps the best Bagan, who were beaten by the Goa outfit in the Durand Cup last week, could come up with against the methodical Goans.

Salgoacar scored the match-winner in extra-time after ninety minutes went goalless. Alvito passed the ball from outside the box to Habib, who received it well and returned the pass as he was challenged by two defenders. Alvito wasted no time as he sent in a powerful shot which Bagan goalkeeper Hemanta Dora failed to collect cleanly. Off the rebound, Alvito found the net in a flash to stamp Salgaocar's authority over the Calcutta giants.

For coach Shabbir Ali, it was a huge achievement. On Saturday, he was voted the best coach after Salgaocar won the Durand Cup. The award fetched him Rs 50,000, while Salgaocar took hom Rs four lakh. Sure, he's way ahead in the race for the coach of the year award as is Salgaocar for the corresponding team award.