A close contest is in the offing when Super Cup champions Sporting Clube de Goa take on Salgaocar in the second semi-final of the Alchemist Federation Cup football tournament, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Thursday, with one Goan team assured a place in the final, to be held on October 30.
However, Sporting, who play possession football coupled with a sharp attacking game, hold an edge over Salgaocar.
Salgaocar raised their level of performance in the victory over Vasco on Tuesday and will have to play to potential if they are to upset their rivals, who have not lost to them in the last two years.
Sporting striker Edeh Chidi, who scored three goals in the tournament, will be looking to increase his tally and claim the highest scorer award. He has struck up a good combination with Dudu Omagbemi, and together the duo are sure to give the Salgaocar defence, which looked shaky at times, a harrowing time.
Sporting Clube president Peter Vaz is confident of his team beating Salgaocar and making it to the final.
"We have beaten them eight times on the trot and there is no reason why we should not be able to beat them now", Vaz said.
"Our only fear is complacency, which should not creep into our boys' minds, all geared up to face Salgaocar," he added.
Salgaocar coach Shabbir Ali said, "Our boys have really played well against Vasco in their last match and that should motivate them to play to their potential. The only problem is our strikers, who need to convert the chances that come their way.
"After our performance in the Professional League no one gave us any chance of going this far and no one had thought that Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Dempo would go out of the Federation Cup early.
"It all depends on the team performance on the given day. I know Sporting are a good side with two good strikers."
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