Salgaocar, BSF to clash for pre-quarters spot in Durand Cup

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) Gurjeet Singh Atwal scored a hat-trick as seven-time winners Border Security Force (BSF) brushed aside a strong challenge from Corps of Signals, Goa 3-2 while Salgaocar scored a facile 2-0 victory over State Bank of Travancore in the qualifying round ties of the 119th Osian's Durand Cup football tournament here today.

BSF and Salgaocar -- who also won the 1999 and 2003 editions of the tournament -- will now clash on Wednesday for a place in the pre-quarterfinals and join Mohammedan Sporting and Air India in Group 'A'.

The securitymen drew the first blood as early as the seventh minute with striker Atwal connecting a pass from Sukhwinder Singh into the net, but the Signals restored parity in the 24th minute with SK Mursheed finding the target.

Atwal put his side in the lead again at the stroke of half time (45th minute).

The second session saw the Signals pressing hard for the equaliser but to no avail, lacking in imagination and precision in finishing and it was Atwal who settled the issue in BSF's favour completing his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.

Asangir Sah pulled one back for the Signals in the dying minutes (89th).

Earlier, Julius Akepele (60th) and Felix Chimaokwiu (67th) scored for Salgaocar after SBT Travancore matched them in all departments of the game in an evenly contested first session.

The Goan side, who were relegated to the NFL second division, found their touch in the second session and walked away with the honours.

Tomorrow's match: Army Green VS Assam Rifles 1415 hrs UNI PDS AY PM1808