MARGAO: Sporting Clube de Goa kept their chances of survival after recording a 2-0 victory over Bharat FC in a Hero I-League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday.
The win, thanks to goals in either half from Brandon Fernandes (42nd) and Prathesh Shirodkar (51st), saw Sporting Clube rise from the bottom of the pool above Bharat FC with 14 points from 16 matches. But they are still in the relegation zone as Bharat FC, newcomers in the league, are free from relegation for three years.
The win, though, will give Sporting Clube immense confidence that, much against the odds, they can survive relegation by accumulating more wins in the next four matches.
Sporting Clube, like their coach Mathew D’Costa had promised, played to win right from the word go and looked determined to get the right result. The hosts, though, could not penetrate the deep Bharat FC defence, who could have surged ahead in the 11th minute if not for the goalpost which saved a header from Subhash Singh before defender Miguel Garcia cleared it on the goalline.
Brandon was Sporting Clube’s most influential player and created plenty of problems for the rival defenders. He went close three times, including one close range effort, but the player who has been on trials with English Premier League clubs proved his class in the 42nd minute when he converted from a free-kick, just outside the box.
Sporting Clube made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with Prathesh Shirodkar scoring a beautiful goal. He collected a ball from Chandradshekar Chinta from just outside the box and then weaved his way past two Bharat FC defenders before coolly slamming the ball into the top of the net.
Sporting Clube wasted two more chances in the next ten minutes as Anthony Wolfe first failed to beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation and then Victorino Fernandes slammed the ball wide from hand-shaking distance.
Bharat FC were lackluster and rarely troubled Sporting Clube. Subhash Singh had two chances at the start but was left to fend for himself upfront.
