PANJIM: Akeraj Martins scored the lone goal as Sporting Clube de Goa registered a narrow 1-0 crucial win over Salgaocar Football
Club in the Goa Football Association’s Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Wednesday.
Started brightly, the Flaming Oranje had the best chance to take an early lead when Richie Vaz won the duel against Salgaocar FC’s Saurabh Patil and played it across to Marcus Mascarenhas, who just had to place the ball into the empty nets, but he failed to do so.
Minutes later, they had another chance to score when Rohit Totad sent a long pass to Marcus, who upon entering the box tried a shot, which was totally off target.
Sporting keeper Ozen Silva made a crucial save to deny Darly Costa from inside the box. The former Calangute Association striker was denied once again by brilliant shot stopping by Ozen, who was named as SportsBalcao’s Goa Pro League goalkeeper of the month (October -November) on Wednesday.
There were chances created by both the sides. But what was lacking was the final touch. Sporting failed to test the keeper while Salgaocar were denied by brilliant goalkeeping.
Both teams made changes at the break. Sporting introduced Akeraj Martins and Stendly Fernandes while Selwyn Miranda and Chaitan Komarpant came in for the Greens.
Stendly was quick in action soon after the restart as he forced a save from Salgaocar custodian Jason. The keeper denied Marcus header who had a poor outing on Wednesday. Marcus missed yet another chance when Rohit fed him with a cross.
But the breakthrough came in the 71st minute and it was the two substitutes who connected to get the goal. Stendly Fernandes played Akeraj through with a long pass, and upon entering the box, Martins fired a low shot past the keeper.
Rohit almost made it 2-0 but Jason came with a smart save to keep his side in the game.
Salgaocar were unlucky not to get the equaliser when Daryl sent Chaitan through and managed to beat the keeper Ozen, only to see his effort come of the post. Chaitan had time to rest the keeper once again, but this time Ozen managed to get a hand to the ball to keep it out of the goal. Sporting Clube’s Girish Naik was sent off late in the game after receiving double booking.
