Margao: A keen contest is on the card when two-time champions Salgaocar will lock horns with Bengaluru FC today in the first semi-finals of the 127th Durand Cup at the Raia Panchayat ground here.
In the evening, another Goan side Sporting Clube de Goa will meet Pune FC in the second semi-finals. The winners will meet in the finals slated on November 8.
Salgaocar FC made their way to the semi-finals by topping Group ‘A’ with four points from a win and a draw. Bengaluru FC, on the other hand, also completed their league engagements with a win and a draw in Group ‘C’.
Salgaocar FC, who will be chasing their third Durand Cup, have won the 1999 and 2003 editions. Coach Derrick Pereira has won the Durand Cup twice himself, once with Salgaocar FC in 1999 and as a coach of Mahindra United in 2008.
“It would be fantastic to win this prestigious trophy on home soil in front of our fans. However, we are taking it one game at a time and don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. All we need is your full support tomorrow and expect full house to cheer our team”, stated Pereira.
“We have prepared ourselves well and the boys are raring to go,” he added.
In what is sure to be the toughest test this season, Derrick will take heart from the fact that his side has made a near flawless start to the season, being unbeaten in 11 games, add to this the fact that nine different players have found themselves on the score sheet over the course of 11 games.
Ivorian Douhou Pierre has been the standout performer in the Durand Cup having netted thrice already in the tournament and will need to dish out another performance if the greens are to make it to their third Durand Cup final.
Bengaluru FC will be looking to protect their undefeated record in Goa (played 6, won 5, drawn 1).
“We’re looking forward to a good game as it is the semi-final and it’s always a big occasion. Fortunately we are the away side so there’s not much pressure on us,” said coach Ashley Westwood.
The gaffer played two completely different sets of defenders in as many league games and with the tournament rule of allowing only two foreign players on the pitch, has looked at the tournament as a chance to give his Indian players a look in.
“Salgaocar have the advantage of playing many competitive matches with two foreigners over the years in the Goa League. It’s a little bit of an unknown territory for us. But one that we are looking forward to as it gives us a chance to keep improving our Indian players which was one of the main reasons the club was formed. Let’s just hope we put in a good performance and give a good account of ourselves as champions,” said Westwood.
Both teams took a similar route out of the group stages with a win and a draw each and Bengaluru FC are well aware that the margin for error is very less from here on.
