Salgaocar whip Punjab cops

Salgaocar Sports Club had things their way as they beat Punjab [ Images ] Police 3-1 to enter the quarter-finals of the 27th Alchemist Federation Cup football tournament in Margao, Goa [ Images ], on Saturday.

The former champions were well-matched by the policemen in the first half, which ended 1-1, but once they regained the lead in the second session there was little the policemen could do to stave off defeat.

Brazilian Fabio Passos put the Goa side ahead in the 18th minute when he headed home a corner kick from Francis Andrade on the right.

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But the Punjab cops drew abreast in the 25th minute as Harnek Singh's free-kick from the right beat keeper Milagrio Medeira all ends up.

At the breather Salgaocar coach Shabbir Ali probably instructed his boys to step up the pace as they launched an all-out attack for goal. Substitute Samson Singh regained the lead for them in the 62nd minute showing good opportunism.

Passos, whose shot was well-saved Punjab Police goalkeeper Sunil Kumar, latched on to the rebound and headed clear for Samson Singh to complete the finishing touches into an empty net.

Seven minutes later Francis Andrade completed the rout in grand style, lobbing the ball over the police goalkeeper.

Salgaocar had another goal for the taking but Samson missed a penalty in the 76th minute, his shot hitting the right post.