United Sikkim caused a major upset on the first matchday of the I-League, defeating Salgaocar 3-2 in an eventful game at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on Saturday.

Angel Guirado had put Karim Bencherifa’s side ahead in the 49^th minute, before Nurudeen Salau equalized for United Sikkim in the 53^rd minute. The Goans once more went ahead through Milagres Gonsalves in the 57^th minute, but yet again they failed to hold on to the lead, as Linekar Machado in the 67^th minute leveled the match. Sandesh Jhingan then headed in the winner for the hosts in the 73^rd minute.

Tae Yoon started in goal for Philippe De Ridder’s side, who named Budhiram Tudu and Nurudeen Salau upfront. Karim Bencherifa meanwhile handed Angel Guirado a start in place of Sean Rooney, and named former Air India left back Collin Abranches in his side.

The first half was being played according to the expected script, with Salgaocar dominating possession and United Sikkim holding a deep defensive line and relying on counterattacks.

The home side’s strikers were often going for long periods without seeing the ball, and this frustration played a part in Tudu earning himself an unnecessary yellow card, after he fouled a Salgaocar defender.

However for all their domination and slick play, Salgaocar failed to find a way past the well organized United Sikkim defense, and Karim Bencherifa was further frustrated by an injury to Anthony D’Souza in the 35^th minute, which forced the Moroccan to introduce Randeep Singh, earlier than he would have liked.

Eventually the two sides headed into the break tied at 0-0, with De Ridder’s plan to negate the potent strike force of Salgaocar, working well.

It seemed like all the good work was undone however, when Michael Rodriguez dithered on the ball, and was robbed of it. The Snow Lions still had a chance to clear the ball, but a misunderstanding between Tae Yoon in goal and his defense, allowed Angel Guirado to head home a simple finish.

The home supporters though didn’t need to stay downbeat for too long, as they hit back through Nurudeen Salau in the 53^rd minute, who poked in a loose ball, after Budhiram Tudu was allowed to run from midfield and unleash a shot unchallenged by any of the Goan side’s players.

The drama further intensified when in the 57^th minute, Milagres Gonsalves put Salgaocar ahead once again, as he was at the right place at the right time, to take full advantage of a shot that rebounded off the post, after the home side’s defense was caught unawares by a quickly taken freekick by Karim Bencherifa’s side.

De Ridder’s side though, yet again equalized when winger Machado found the back of the net with a stunning strike in the 67^th minute.

The 2010-11 I-League champions were then left stunned, when  Sandesh Jhingan rose majestically to meet a Ashish Chettri free kick, to give United Sikkim the lead for the first time in the game.

The Goans rallied in search of a response, but failed to find a third goal, even after they threw on Sean Rooney into the proceedings.

Eventually the referee blew the final whistle, handing United Sikkim their first three points in the top division.

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