Shillong, Aug 8: Noah Sadaoui registered the second hat-trick of the Durand Cup 2023 as FC Goa started their campaign with a 6-0 rout of Shillong Lajong FC in Guwahati today.
Apart from Sadaoui, Rowllin Borges and the Spanish duo of Victor Rodriguez and Carlos Martinez scored for Goa to hand Shillong Lajong their second consecutive loss of the tournament, following a 4-0 defeat to NorthEast United FC on 4th August.
The Gaurs took the lead in the 15th minute through Borges, who coolly finished past SLFC goalkeeper Rajat Paul Lyngdoh.
Goa scored again within five minutes when Devendra Murgaokar was found by Brandon Fernandes’ through ball. Murgaokar unselfishly passed the ball beyond the rushing goalkeeper to Sadaoui, who had to just tap the ball inside an empty net. Sadaoui then added another in the 26th minute and 3-0 is how it stayed until the end of the first half.
Another three goals followed in the second half as FC Goa refused to take their foot off the accelerator.
Sadaoui was in the thick of the action once again as he set up the fourth goal, passing the ball to Sanson Pereira, who then found substitute Rodriguez and the latter finished past the goalie in the 68th minute.
Then, some 15 minutes later, Sadaoui’s cross was pushed away by the Lajong goalkeeper but it hit the onrushing Martinez (83′) and the ball deflected into the goal.
Sadaoui’s hat-trick goal followed soon after in the 86th minute.
Lajong will play their last group fixture against Downtown Heroes of Kashmir on Sunday at 4:45PM.
