Salgaocar SC scored a facile 3-1 win over Air India while Garwhal Heroes shocked Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in quarter-final league matches of the 123rd Durand Cup football tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on Thursday.
After a barren first-half in the Group D match, Marcus Mascarenhas opened the scoring in the 54th minute to put Salgaocar in lead, seven minutes before Japanese recruit Sueoka Ryuji doubled the Goan side's lead. Ghanaian Yusif Yakubu then took the match beyond the airmen's reach with his injury-time strike.
Air India captain Vijith Shetty reduced the margin by scoring in the dying minutes of the game.
In the day's other match, Ashish Pandey (8th) and captain Gangamlung Kamei (84th) scored a goal apiece to help Garwhal Heroes overcome Sporting Clube de Goa. Mackroy Peixoto pulled one back for the Goans.
In Friday's fixtures, Army Red face MEG, Bangalore, while Pune FC will lock horns with Indian Air Force.
