Salgaocar SC eased past Pailan Arrows 3-0 in their final group game of the 2011 Federation Cup to make it through to the semi-finals of the competition at the Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune on Thursday.

The I-League champions outplayed the young Arrows’ squad, with Chidi Edeh opening the scoring in the third minute. They doubled their advantage on 49 minutes when an attemped clearance hit Gilbert Oliveira’s foot and got deflected into the goal. The Goan side got their third in the added time of the second half when a fast counter attack saw Balwant Singh score to seal the 3-0 win.

Arrows went into the game making only one change into the side that started in their last game as Bikramjit Singh came in for Shilton D’Silva. Salgaocar on the other hand, named the same team that comfortably beat HAL Bangalore as Chidi Edeh was supported by Ryuji Sueoka in attack.

The match started with Salgaocar dominating proceedings and they almost took the lead in the first couple of minutes when Irungbam Meitei’s cross from the right wing was shot over by Japanese Ryuji Sueoka.

A minute later, the ball played into the box was headed on by Tomba Singh, only to be lobbed back in by Luciano Sobrosa to Chidi Edeh, who finished off the move to perfection leaving goalkeeper Naveen Kumar with absolutely no chance.

In the 13th minute, Pailan nearly equalized against the run of play when Sobrosa's clearance was shot over the bar by Ajay Singh.

Thirteen minutes later, a cross from the left fell to Francis Fernandes on the edge of the box, whose shot was deflected to Tomba Singh, who fired his shot over the bar.

On 41 minutes, Chidi was denied a tap in by Arrows goalkeeper Naveen from six yards after the ball was crossed in from the left by Francis Fernandes.

Deep into first half injury time, Bijendra Rai's freekick forced Indian international Karanjit Singh to make a diving save. The referee soon blew for half-time and the first half ended with Karim Bencherifa's side leading 1-0.

Four minutes into the second period, Francis’ cross across the face of the goal fell to Chidi Edeh, who was dispossessed by Deepak Devrani and the ball eventually fell right in between Gurtej Singh and Lalrozama Fanai, whose clearance was smashed onto the foot of Gilbert Oliveira, deflecting the midfielder’s shot into the back of the net to double Salgaocar’s advantage.

In the final 20 minutes, the Goan club seemed satisfied to protect their two goal lead and thus, started to keep the ball well.

Salgaocar got their third goal three minutes into added time when Ryuji Sueoka's perfectly floated cross was headed in by substitute Balwant Singh to seal a place in the final four of the Federation Cup.

Karim Bencherifa’s men will face Shillong Lajong in the first semi-final on Sunday in Kolkata.