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MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa proved unstoppable as they registered a fluent 3-1 win over Geno FC in the Goa Football Association’s Goa Professional League match played at Duler Stadium, here, on Saturday.
Unstoppable Sporting Clube de Goa are now on 33 points from 12 matches leading the GPL table with Geno FC stays on 25 points from 11 matches are on second place.
Flaming Oranje were indeed a better side with more attempts at the rival goal where in the very first minute medio Ahongshangbam darted inside the 18-yard box from the left flank and squared the ball to his partner U-21 Francisco Fernandes who controlled, hoodwinked his marker and placed the ball into the far corner of the goal 1-0.
Geno FC who are couple of points behind Sporting Clube, came back strongly and levelled terms in the 13th minute of play.
Sporting Clube’s defender brought a reckless tackle on Geno FC’s Prajat Naik inside the 18-yard box prompting Referee Jan Rodrigues to point to the dreaded spot. Geno FC’s skipper Velito Cruz, shoulder the responsibility and made no mistake to send Sporting Clube’s custodian the wrong way, 1-1.
After much probing Geno FC colts almost doubled their lead in the 25th minute, where a firm header by stopper back Mohammad Rafi off Niraj Parekh curling corner went just past the goal post.
On resumption of play, Flaming Oranje almost once again took the lead in the very first minute but substitute Rohan Rodrigues placement missed the target narrowly. Minutes later a strong header by Ngangbam Singh was brilliantly collected by Geno FC’s custodian Akshat Hadkonkar.
Two more chances went a begging for Sporting when a dipping cross inside the Geno FC’s goal area was excellently cleared to safety by stopper back Mohammad Rafi. In the 60th minute, Geno FC’s Mehbub Hublikar tackled Rohan Rodrigues just outside the penalty box. A well-executed direct free-kick by Lauremruata HP crashed into the far corner of the Geno FC’s goal, 2-1.
It did not take long for Sporting Clube to net in the third goal almost in a similar fashion, but this time a hot-blooded free-kick by Ahongshangbham Metei hit the defensive wall and the ball rolled to overlapping Dhiraj Chouhan who slotted the ball into the net, 3-1.
In the 85th minute, Geno FC missed a golden opportunity to score their second goal as Sporting Clube’s custodian Abhimanyu Singh brought a full-stretched diving save to push Chaitan Komarpant strike for a corner.
