Team Herald
MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa got the better of Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao 2-0 in the GFA Professional League, at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.
The first half goals from Alber Gonsalves (8’) and Cajetan Fernandes (22’) helped the Flaming Oranje to walk home with 3 points
Sporting now go to the top of the league table with 24 points off 10 matches while Taleigao are still at the bottom of the table with 3 points from ten matches.
In their first leg encounter Sporting managed a 1-0 win over Taleigao.
Gaffer Mateus Costa made a number of changes to his side that faced Sao Minguel last week. Marcus Mascarenhas, Alber Gonsalves, George D’Souza, Seriton Fernandes, Shawn Noronha, Glan Martins, Subhasish Bose were handed a start this time around.
The Oranje kept their opponents on their back-foot throughout the encounter, initiating a series of vicious moves.
Alber Gonsalves broke the deadlock in the early 8th minute of play when on collecting the ball from Seriton Fernandes he placed it to the far end of the Taleigao goal, 1-0.
After a couple of minutes of midfield action Marcus Mascarenhas unleashed a powerful shot which was blocked by the diving Taleigao custodian Rohan Sheikh only to see the ball strike the side post and once again roll towards Marcus, however this time his placement hit the post and went out of play.
In the 20th minute Marcus made a dazzling run on the left to beat his marker and fire a powerful shot, the keeper managed to deflect the same on to the post, the rebound which came back to the striker was shot off target.
In the 22nd minute, Taleigao’s Raju Abbiigeri picked up a direct red card from referee Tejas Nagvekar for deliberately handling Subhasish Bose header inside the penalty area. Sporting skipper Cajetan Fernandes made no mistake in scoring from the penalty spot, 2-0.
Before going into the breather Sporting Clube could have further inflated the lead, however Marcus header from close range sailed inches over the horizontal bar and then Daryl Costa saw his strike miss the target narrowly.
Crossing over Sporting gaffer Costa introduced Victorino Fernandes and Avrhistho Fernandes in search of a few more goals. However the Sporting strikers missed a gazillion chances in front of the goal failing to make any difference to the score line.
In the 51st minute Seriton Fernandes saw his fierce shot being swayed away for a corner by keeper Rohan Sheikh.
Then minutes later Shawn Noronha sent a perfect pass to Marcus who on charging inside the rival citadel was timely blocked by keeper Rohan.
Shawn then saw his effort at goal hit the legs of Taleigao’s Gopi Gad and travel goalwards but keeper Rohan managed to keep the ball from entering the nets.
