Seven-match unbeaten run ends
TEAM HERALD
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MAPUSA: Ten-man Sporting Clube de Goa were given a 5-1 thrashing by Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in a 23rd round I-League match at Duler Stadium, here, Sunday. The teams were locked goalless at half time.
Sporting Clube were down to 10-man in the 39th minute after Dawson Fernandes received a second yellow and a red card from referee Andrew Shekar.
Bagan dominated the first session and capitalized on the numerical advantage in the second half as strikers Odafa Okolie and Tolgay Ozbey combined well to score three and two goals respectively to end Sporting Clube’s seven-match unbeaten streak, six of which were played at the same venue. Ogba Kalu scored a consolation goal for Sporting Clube.
Sporting coach Oscar Bruzon Barreras, who was sent off for arguing with the fourth official during the Dempo match in the 21st round, faced suspension and had to seat out for this tie as assistant coach Ekendra Singh took charge.
They missed the services of defender Samananda Singh due to suspension while Adil Khan and Mackroy Peixoto were injured. Prathesh Shirodkar and Joyner Lourenco returned after serving suspension.
As the Mariners missed the services of Echezona Anyichie due to suspension, Tolgay Ozbey and Odafa Okolie were paired in a three-man attack along-side Sabeeth Sathyam.
The visitors established easy control and moved the ball comfortably to keep their rivals on the back-foot. They could have surged ahead in the 10th minute after Denson Devdas played to Tolgay Ozbey inside the box but Sporting Clube’s Pratesh Shirodkar came up with a timely tackle to deny the Australian a clear chance at goal.
After weathering spells of the rival onslaught, Sporting Clube’s first threat came eighth minutes later when Stephene Barreto’s effort was blocked by Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul and rebounded back to Pratesh, whose left-footer sailed inches over.
In the 25th minute, referee Andrew Shekar cautioned Devdas for his challenge on Sporting Clube’s Jovel Martins.
Subsequently, Bagan’s Manish Maithani and Sporting Clube’s Dawson also found their names in the referee’s book by the 35th minute.
Five minutes later, Dawson handled the ball only to receive his second yellow and was given the marching orders.
In the second session, Bagan got their act together and broke the deadlock in the 50th minute through a penalty, after Syed Rahim Nabi’s dangerous floater in the rival box was handled by Sporting Clube captain Mathew Gonsalves in an attempt to restrain Ozbey.
Odafa kept his cool and converted the spot-kick beating Sporting Clube goalkeeper Bruno Colaco.
The Mariners continued to press forward and doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute. Odafa cleverly tricked past Mathew and made a promising run from the midfield to the danger zone and set up Ozbey, who shot past goalkeeper Bruno with a deft placement.
Sporting Clube tried hard to get back into the game and gained a life-line, three minutes later, after Jovel Martins was brought down in the penalty box by Bagan’s Nirmal Chettri. Kalu sent the Bagan custodian the wrong way from the spot-kick to score his 11th goal of the season.
In the 80th minute, Bagan scored their third as Ozbey registered his brace.
Odafa was in full flow and remained lively, creating space with some neat footwork as he went on to score two more in the 82nd and 90th minutes. He was adjudged Most Valuable Player for his performance.
Sporting Clube are in the eighth spot with 30 points from 23 games while Bagan have 16 points from 19 outings which lift them from the bottom of the standings to the 13th spot.
