MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa tasted their first victory of the campaign as they grounded Curtorim Gymkhana 5-1 in the third round match of the Goa Professional League, at Duler Stadium, here, on Monday. Sporting Clube led 2-1 at half time.
Nigerian striker Odafa Okolie and substitute Ganesh Thakur netted a brace each while Franzil Negredo was their other scorer.
Hanslym Furtado had given Curtorim Gymkhana the lead through a spot-kick.
Curtorim Gymkhana started aggressively and could have stunned their strong opponents in the very first minute as Hanslym set up Josly Costa inside the box but the medio’s fierce effort hit the upright and the ball fell back in play. It certainly gave them confidence and Curtorim Gymkhana tried to maintain the momentum as their strikers kept the rival defence on their toes.
At the other end, Sporting Clube’s dead ball specialist Cajetan Fernandes created havoc with his two free-kicks. However, U-20 striker Delbert Fernandes failed to convert from hand-shaking distance in the 11th minute while Glan Martins’ header sailed inches over in the 24th minute.
As the match progressed, Sporting Clube took control of the proceedings and Joseph Pereira had a golden opportunity to score but the wingers volley off a cross by Franzil Negredo.
In the 43rd minute, Curtorim Gymkhana striker Xavier Dias was brought down by Clemente Joseph inside the danger zone and referee Prasad Surlekar was spot on to blow his whistle for the spot-kick.
Hansylm kept his cool and shot past Sporting Clube custodian Kamaljit Singh with ease.
However, their joy was short-lived as Odafa turned in the equalizer in the injury time after finishing neatly off a pass by substitute Ganesh Thakur.
Curtorim Gymkhana had high hopes at the start of the second session but it came crashing down when Odafa sent in a fine pass to Ganesh, who rounded off keeper Muhammad Shaikh to make it 2-1.
In the 72nd minute, keeper Muhammad was forced to stretch as he fisted away a fierce grounder by substitute Sumeet Passi.
Off the resultant flag-kick by Cajetan, Franzil nodded in from close range with a half volley as the Curtorim Gymkhana citadel fell for the third time.
Curtorim Gymkhana did not give up their fight and came close to scoring in the final stages but Clifton Fernandes’ header kissed the crossbar off a cross by Gopi Gad.
In the injury time, Sporting Clube pumped in two more goals as Odafa chipped the ball perfectly over keeper Muhammad and Ganesh slotted past to make it 5-1.
