AFC Cup: Salgaocar beat Al Arouba for first win!

Salgaocar SC scored their first-ever AFC Cup victory, a 3-1 win against Al Arouba from Oman in their fifth Group D league match at the Nehru Stadium, Margao.

In was an even game in the first session, but in injury time Francis Fernandes tapped in a Beevan D'Mello cross. Salgaocar continued after the break from where they had left off as only three minutes into the second session striker Milagres Gonsalves would head home a Nicolau Colaco cross.

Then in the 64th minute midfielder Gilbert Oliveira would make it 3-0 for Salgaocar. Al Arouba was beaten by then but their striker Danilo Texeira would score off a penalty in the 81st minute after he himself had been brought down by defender Augostinho Fernandes.

It ended 3-1 for Salgaocar SC's first win which brought them level on points with Al Arouba, who where also eliminated from the AFC Cup while Al Wehdat from Jordan and Uzbek's Neftchi FC move into the pre-quarterfinal phase.

"Football is not only about quality, it is also about character, and today my boys have excelled and performed wonderfully in all the departments like speed, fitness and technical abilities," said a delighted coach Karim Bencherifa.

"However, I have mixed feelings as we held our head high with some good performances but at the same time we are out of contention for the next round. Our target now will be to not to finish at the bottom of the table," Karim added.