Federation Cup 2011 Final: Salgaocar win the trophy

Federation Cup 2011 Final
Salgaocar Win the Trophy

                                                         

East Bengal 1-3 Salgaocar SC

EB: Alan Gow(Pen 26')

SSC: Chidi Edeh(8'), Francis Fernandes(19'),Ryuiji Sueoka(66')

FPAI Coach of the year Karim Bencherifa made a double after they clinched the Federation Cup glory after winning the i-League. It was a disciplined performance from the Goan side as they shocked the home team taking a two goal lead in no time thanks to some poor defending from the Red and Golds. The East Bengal players never looked to have the winning attitude right from the offset. The things got even worse when Mehtab Hussain had to leave the ground as he went down in a collision and aggravated his injury which meant that Sanju Pradhan had to replace him. East Bengal then had to face the heat of the Salgaocar front line expertly lead by Chidi Edeh. East Bengal seemed to have chosen the aerial balls for feeding their forwards but it was the Salgaocar SC captain Luciano Sarbosa who stood like a wall and won nearly every possible aerial balls. Second half saw the introduction of Tolgay Ozbey, but that move did not pay off for the Red and Golds as he failed to make any possible impact with the midfielder failing to provide good balls to them.

The win for Salgaocar meant they won the Federation Cup after a gap of 14 years as they last won the trophy in 1997. Salgaocar SC thus will receive a sum of 25 Lakhs INR whereas runner up East Bengal will get 15 Lakh INR.