SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Sporting…1 JCT…0
MARGAO APRIL 7
Bottom placed Sporting Clube de Goa scored a solitary goal victory over JCT in a 20th round match of ONGC 3rd I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
Man-of-the match and attacking midfielder Bisheshwor Singh’s lone strike in the first half paved the way for Sporting Clube de Goa to register their third victory and collect three points. They now have 17 points from 20 matches. JCT suffered their third defeat on trot in Goa and have 22 points from the same number of encounters.
Sporting Clube de Goa put up a doughty display to take the fight to the rival camp. The home team created chances early in the match but Nigerian striker Junior Obagbemiro wasted an open chance with only JCT goalkeeper Karanjit Singh at his mercy. He shot wide off a pass from Agnelo D’Souza from hand-shaking distance.
Sporting Clube de Goa goal had a charmed life soon after. Following Daljit Singh’s throw-in, Sporting Clube defender Rowan Pereira in trying to clear the ball headed goalwards but luckily it missed by a whisker.
A couple of minutes later, striker Agnelo D’Souza weaved in from the right and chipped for Junior Obagbemiro but the last named blasted over from close
Midway through the first half, Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper Felix D’Souza was alert blocking JCT’s striker Emanuel Okoro rasping right footer from close range.
Sporting Clube de Goa came very close to forging ahead in the 26th minute but were denied by the framework when Junior Obagbemiro’s snap shot from 25-yard beat the rival goalkeeper.
The all-important goal came in the 32nd minute through Bisheshwor Singh. Following a well measured through pass from Agnelo D’Souza, JCT stopper Narinder Singh fumbled and midfielder Bisheshwor without wasting time unleashed a right footer to the roof of the net.
Five minutes later, Sporting Clube de Goa’s striker Agnelo D’Souza wasted a gilt edged scoring opportunity from a Junior Obagbemiro pass.
The home side put up a better display after resumption and their efforts nearly bore fruits but the JCT goalkeeper was equal to the task to deny Junior Obagbemiro a sure goal. Later, JCT goalkeeper Karanjit Singh came to his side’s rescue gathering a fierce volley from Joseph Pereira.
At the other end, JCT midfielder Baljit Sahni came close in cancelling the lead but his try went straight into the waiting hands of Sporting Clube de Goa custodian Felix D’Souza in the 33rd minute.
With time ticking out, Sporting Clube de Goa nearly doubled the lead when PIO Stanley Samuel’ snap shot from the left beat JCT goalkeeper Karanjit Singh and also a defender but it came off the upright.
Sporting recorded their 3rd victory.
