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Jamshedpur: Salgaocar posted a 1-0 win over a dogged Prayag United in a Group D quarter-final league match of the 34th Federation Cup, at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, on Thursday.
In the other Group D outing at the Keenan Stadium, Pune FC defeated United Sikkim FC 1-0.
Both Salgaocar, the defending champions, and United SC braved the slushy conditions in an encounter which saw a slew of misses, especially by the latter. If the opening half turned out to be a drab affair with both sides making slow moves while negotiating the conditions, the second-half witnessed some exciting football.
Salgaocar found the back of the net in the 64th minute after a swift move from the right flank. A low cross was deflected by a United defender and found an unmarked Anthony D’Souza inside the box.
Anthony gently pushed the ball into the goal as goalkeeper Subrata Paul failed to react to the deflection on time.
While Salgaocar played in a fluid 4-3-3 formation, United SC chose to stick to the traditional 4-4-2 system deploying Costa Rican World Cupper Carlos Hernandez up front with goal-machine Ranty.
Karim Bencharifa chose to play new arrival Sean Rooney as the centre forward with Milagres Gonsalves and Anthony S’Souza supporting him from both the flanks.
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