SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Sporting Clube de Goa secured a 5-2 win against Kenkre FC in I-League 2 match played at COE Kharghar, Mumbai, on Tuesday.
Sporting Clube strikers hit top form as Alister Anthony netted a hat-trick and Doyal Alves secured a brace. The Goan side were coming into the fixture after a three-match winless run and were stunned in the fourth minute when FC Kenkre captain Raul Almeida gave the home side the lead.
However, Sporting Clube regrouped and Doyal equalised six minutes later.
As the match progressed, Sporting Clube took control and went ahead after a fine strike from Alister in the 33rd minute. It helped boost the morale of Armando Colaco’s side and there was no looking back.
Three minutes later, Alister scored his brace and just a minute before the break, the forward completed his hat-trick.
In the second half, Kenkre FC, who had lost 1-2 in the first leg, did try to put up a fight, but Doyal left them crushed once again with his second to make it 5-1.
Kenkre FC did manage to reduce the margin in the 70th minute when Khanngam Horam found the back of the net.
The win put Sporting Clube back in the fourth position after nine games as they are on 13 points, a point behind third-placed Dempo SC, who have a game in hand.
FC Bengaluru United lead the standings with 19 points from eight matches, while SC Bengaluru are second with 18 points.
Sporting Clube will need to continue with the same momentum when they host league leaders Bengaluru United on April 6, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.
In the first leg, Sporting Clube had narrowly lost to Bengaluru United by a solitary-goal despite superior ball possession.
