Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa unbeaten run continued as they registered a comfortable 3-0 win over Panjim Footballers in their eighth-round match of the GFA’s Professional League, at Duler Stadium, on Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s win Flaming Oranje stay on second position with 17 points from seven matches while Panjim Footballers have six points from equal outings.
For Sporting coach Francisco Savio Vaz, Tuesday’s encounter was crucial as in the last GPL season he then coached Panjim Footballers who had defeated Sporting which had cost Flaming Oranje the GPL title. However Francisco was elevated as Flaming Oranje Head Coach for the last two matches of the last season.
After both teams were locked 0-0 at half time, Sporting got all the three goals in the second session through Cajetan Fernandes, Marcus Mascarenhas and Akeraj Martins.
Sporting keen to strengthen their standing in the league table started on the front foot from the kick off and nearly got the opening goal in the 15th minute but keeper Preston Rego comfortably collected Nigerian Philip Odogwu firm shot from inside the box.
Minutes later, Sporting’s George D`Souza long free-kick found Alton Vaz who cushioned the ball in the path of Philip Odogwu whose diving header was off target.
Panjim who were pegged back into their own half had the first decent attempt in the 19th minute when Chandan Gawas cross found U-20 Lakesh Gawas who took one step and let go a cracking right footed shot which was acrobatically stopped by Melroy Fernandes.
In the 21st minute, Lloyd Cardozo could not keep his header goal wards for Panjim from a long ball delivered into the Sporting box by Lakesh Gawas.
Sporting should have broken the deadlock before the half time whistle but substitute U-20 Stendly Fernandes surprisingly shot wide from close range after being released by Cajetan Fernandes with an intelligent pass.
Crossing end, Sporting got a lucky breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty by referee Sharad Naik for a dangerous tackle on Philip by Panjim`s Janio Fernandes. Cajetan Fernandes who stepped forward calmly slotted the penalty past the keeper, 1-0 on a much decorated playing field.
Sporting had a chance to double their lead through Marcus Mascarenhas header, but it was rightly called offside by the assistant referee.
Marcus Mascarenhas was once again guilty of squandering an open sitter in the 65th minute when his placement from handshaking distance went over the crossbar after some good work done by Stendly to get the ball into the goal area.
Sporting finally wrapped up the match in the final ten minutes when substitute Akeraj Martins set up Marcus who finally managed to get the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute, with a firm grounder, 2-0
Akeraj Martins also got his name on the scoresheet in the closing minutes to complete the rout capitalising on a defensive error from Panjim to make it 3-0.
Meanwhile at Rosary ground Navelim, Latesh Madrekar and Suraj Handkonkar scored a double each in Dempo Sports Club’s 4-0 win over Guardian Angel SC.
The winners led 1-0 at the break before scoring three goals in the second session.
