Margao, Feb 11: Raia Sporting Club scored a comfortable 3-0 win over St Rock’s Sports Club, Fatrade in GFA’s First Division League at Raia panchayat ground, on Friday. Raia led 1-0 at half time.
Raia began in right earnest and showed better application in their approach with midfielder Danny Dias and Remedious Barretto keeping forward Clemente Xavier busy with a stream of passes.
On the other hand, St Rock’s slowly took over the reins and created forays into the rival territory and had scoring chances to break the deadlock but striker Columban Noronha squandered easy sitters.
Raia went into the lead in the 26th minute when midfielder Danny Dias unleashed a blistering 40 yard shot that crashed into the net keeping St Rock’s custodian Samroy Cardozo in a daze.
The early goal spurred Raia to pile up pressure and fired well sorties against the rival citadel but their strikers either shot wide or shot straight into the hands of the rival keeper.
Crossing over, Raia were dominant and breached the rival defence an umpteen number of times with striker Clemente Xavier taking shots from handshaking distance. In the 55th minute, Raia doubled the lead when Deslie Fernandes’ snap shot beat the rival keeper hands down off a cross from Ozie Fernandes.
At the other end, St Rock’s struggled to contain Raia’s strikers and beat a hasty retreat and seldom troubled the rival defence.
Raia nearly made it 3-0 midway in the second session but striker Clemente Xavier’s goal-bound try was thwarted by St Rock’s defender.
St Rock who were at the receiving end had a chance but William Fernandes’ set piece missed the mark narrowly.
Substitute striker Alvito Fernandes drove the last nail in the 85th minute off a pass from Eusebio Fernandes.
With this win, Raia collected eight points from seven matches while St Rocks suffered their fifth defeat and have four points from seven matches.
