MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa eased past 10-man Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim 2-0 in the Goa Professional League match, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Thursday.

With this win, Sporting moved to the top of the league table with 18 points from eight matches, while Cavelossim stands at 10th position with six points from seven matches.

Sporting had wasted an easy chance to regain top spot in the last round as they had dropped two important points against Guardian Angel SC in the last match, while Cavelossim had lost to defending champions Salgaocar in the previous round match.

Sporting Coach Mateus Costa made a number of changes to his side as goalkeeper Ozen Silva, Alesh Sawant and star striker Victorino Fernandes were back in the starting XI, while Avrhishto Fernandes, Peter Carvalho and Nigerian midfielder Philip Odogwu also made into the cut. On the other hand, Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes made only two changes as U-20 striker Perryson Fernandes and midfielder Cayven Araujo found their names in the line-up. 

Sporting came with first chance of the match in the 8th minutes when Quan Gomes went for the glory from distance only to see it saved by the rival keeper Siddesh Morje, while the south Goan club Cavelossim created their first potent move in the 16th minutes when Cayven found well-positioned Perryson in the box but the striker could not connect his header from inside the 6-yard box.

A few minutes later, Sporting once again came close to scoring when Avrhishto made a long ball to Victorino in the box, who setup it for midfielder Philip but the Nigerian midfielder failed to keep his shot on target from close.

In the 38th minutes, Cavelossim were reduced to 10-men when their U-20 winger Cayven was sent off following his harsh tackle on Sporting’s Quan as the referee Sunil Nanodkar showed him the straight red for his offence despite the midfielder was already booked in the early stages of the match.

Sporting should have opened the account in the 43rd minutes when Avrhishto sent a perfect through pass to Victorino in the box but the striker could not make most of it as his shot was easily saved by keeper Siddesh.

It was just 40 seconds in the second half when Sporting star striker Victorino took his side ahead when he made no mistake to finish the ball home after receiving a perfect cross from Alesh.

Sporting coach replaced Nigerian Philip with Mauvin Borges in the 59th minutes and the latter doubled their lead with his first touch when Victorino dribbled past a rival defender and made a cut-back pass to the midfielder who easily tapped-in from close to make it 2-0 for the Flaming Orange.

Sporting should have won at least by few more goals but Victorino and substitute striker Daryl Costa’s poor finishing in the dying minutes restricted the scoreline. Whereas, Cavelossim also had a chance to reduce the margin in the added time when their frontman Semson Fernandes dangerously moved inside the box but could not beat the rival keeper with a powerful shot as the custodian made a diving save to