A double strike from Yusif Yakubu and Ryuji Sueoka kept Salgaocar's winning momentum going as they thrashed AIFF XI 5-0 to score their fourth win to move at the top of the table in the I-League, played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, in Margoa on Saturday.
Salgaocar took the lead in the 7th minute when Ryuji Sueoka split the defence with a through pass to Yusif Yakubu who took a defender in his stride and beat the advancing keeper Jagroop Singh to find the net.
AIFF XI who moved up to assist their strike force whenever they attacked the rival defence and Salgaocar exploited the gap provided especially on the left to score two quick goals to snuff of the rival challenge.
Anthony Barbosa who played in tandem along with his strikers Yakubu and Sueoka initiated the move on the right and relayed the ball to Ryuji who released it to Yakubu, the latter sent a measured cross to Ryuji Sueoka who slotted the ball into the net from close after the entire defence was beaten.
Two minutes later, AIFF XI defence was again beaten when Anthony Barbosa released the ball to Yakubu who slammed it to the net to score his brace.
Ryuji Sueoka, with his swift running, troubled the rival defence and scored his brace in the 33rd minute off a cross from Anthony Barbosa who got the ball via Cajetan Fernandes.
Substitute Ekene Ikenwa than rounded the tally when he scored in the stoppage time to give Salgaocar resounding 5-0 win which helped them to move at the top with a better goal difference of plus two against East Bengal as both of them have 12 points from four matches respectively.
Viva Kerala held by HAL
Bangalore warded off a stiff challenge from hosts Viva Kerala successfully to hold them to a 1-1 draw and split the points in the I-League Football match at the Jawahar Municipal stadium in Kunnur on Saturday.
The Bangalore outfit forged ahead in the 55th minute through a penalty conversion by J Murali, while the neutraliser for Viva was scored by midfielder Anilkumar through a header in the 57th minute.
