By Salgaocar FC Media

Margao: It was the Ronaldo Oliveira show at the DYSA ground in Cuncolim as Ronaldo Oliveira who was introduced in the 45^th minute found the back of the net 4 times in the second half to ensure Salgaocar FC maintained their hundred percent win record after 3 rounds of the U-18 I-League. With this win Salgaocar climb to pole position with 9 points from 3 outings whilst Dempo continue on 1 point.

The match got off to a lively start with both sides making their intentions clear. Lalit Tariyal who was lively throughout the game sent in a teasing cross for the first decent chance of the game, the ball eluding the on-rushing Salgaocar forwards. It was Dempo who came closest to breaking the deadlock minutes later however, as Vineet Bugde who linked up well with captain Kapil Hoble set Ronil Azavedo free on the right. Ronil in turn found his skipper inside the box. Dylan Da Silva under the Salgaocar rushed out to narrow the angle and manage to take away some of the sting from Kapil’s powerful attempt that was eventually cleared by the Salgaocar defense off the line.

It was then the turn of the Salgaocar skipper Denil Rebello to have a crack from distance, his effort sailing wide. In the 38^th minute Dempo earned a free-kick about 25 yards out for a foul on Ronil. Vineet who stepped up to take the resultant free-kick saw his effort crash against the upright and rebound back into play.

Ronaldo was then introduced in place of Flester Gomes just prior to the half time whistle. After the change of ends the Greens came out all guns blazing and almost surged ahead in the first 5 minutes as a delightful interchange of passes between Ruflan and Denil saw the Salgaocar skipper fire over from inside the box.

Salgaocar did open the scoring in the 56^th minute as Lalit played the ball for Ronaldo Oliveira on the net who let fly, his powerful left footer, sneaking inside the far post much to the delight of his team mates. A minute later Salgaocar could have doubled their lead but Ozen Silva did brilliantly under the Dempo bar to keep out a stunning curler from captain Denil. A couple of minutes later Ronaldo smashed wide after a delightful interchange of passes between Stephen Satardekar and Ruflan Fernandes saw the last name put Ronaldo through on goal.

Salgaocar did however double their lead in the 62nd minute as a classic counter attack saw Denil play the ball to Stephen who played it out first time to Mahesh Kumar on the right, his inch perfect cross leaving Ronaldo with the task of tapping past the keeper which he did ever so calmly.

Dempo who thereafter went all out looking to reduce the deficit were then left vulnerable at the back as they maintained a high-line as the pacey Ronaldo playing on the shoulder of the last man kept causing the Dempo defense problems aplenty.

The game however burst to life in the final 5 minutes. It was first the turn of Dempo to pull once back in the 86th minute as Jayson Lucas finished a fine cross from Aaron Rodrigues. Their joy was short-lived though as Ronaldo scored 2 more in the 87th and 88th minute respectively. The first of those and third of the game, a fine finish with his right after a delightful through ball played by Stephen. In the very next minute, Denil played Ronaldo through and the forward did not disappoint as he smashed home with his left that eluded a diving Ozen.

Ronaldo was unlucky not to have a fifth against his name as his powerful left footer in the 90th minute thundered against the underside of the bar and rebounded back into play.