TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Displaying excellent flair Sporting Clube de Goa demolished Mumbai Football Club 5-0 and in the process avenged the first-leg loss in a 16th round I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Monday. There was no score at half time.
Mackroy Peixoto scored two, man-of-the match Anthony D’Souza, James Moga and substitute Ogba Kalu got one each.
Sporting enjoyed the better of exchanges, especially in the second half. They had plenty of ball possession even in the first session but lacked the final touch that would translate a good move into a goal.
Mumbai survived a close call in the 10th minute when central defender Keita Boubacar moved upfront and essayed a fine through pass to Freiman Peixoto, who in turn relayed it to midfielder Mackroy Peixoto who was thwarted by Mumbai goalkeeper Goutam Debnath. Four minutes later, they had another chance when Freiman picked up the ball from Anthony and sent a goalmouth cross. Luckily, Dhanachandra Singh headed it out.
The much-hyped South Korean striker
Mumbai came up with a move in the 24th minute. Right back Faizal Rehaman ran down the right and sent a
floater but striker Gbeneme Friday headed it out with an open goal.
Sporting went all out and Moga nodded wide with goalkeeper Goutnam at his mercy in the 28th.
In injury time, Mumbai spurned an easy chance when striker Ebi Sukorke Theophlous’ chip from close missed the mark narrowly after being put on the platter by Noel Wilson.
After the change of ends, the Ekendra Singh coached side looked better organised. Midfielder Anthony D’Souza sped past the rival defenders and beat Mumbai goalkeeper Gautam in the 50th minute after Keita Boubacar had done the spadwrork.
Sporting consolidated the lead in the 59th through Moga. Freiman controlled a Mathew Gonsalves pass and centred for Moga whose smart header brushed the hands of the goalkeeper and landed into the net.
Sporting intensified their attacks but Moga wasted sitters. Sporting made it 3-0 in the 75th minute through Mackroy. Anthony sent a cross for Moga whose shot was parried away by goalkeeper Gautam and Mackroy pounced on the rebound.
Two minutes later Mackroy scored from off Freiman
Pexito’s through pass.
In the injury time , substitute Ogba Kalu drove the last nail into Mumbai’ coffin when he converted the spot kick after substitute Dawson Fernandes was brought down
by Mumbai defender Dhanachandra Singh.
Sporting now have 23 points but stay in 8th position while Mumbai with 14 points are on 12th.
Sporting striker James Moga got involved in an ugly spat with Mumbai coach Khalid Jamil and it needed Sporting coach Ekendra Singh and manager Angelo Albuquerque to intervene and cool things down. Football fans did not like Moga’s outburst and he was jeered and booed when he left the field when he was substituted.
“We had a bad day in office but somehow the players did not click today. We will forget this loss as we have bigger challenges ahead in order to avoid the relegation,” said
Mumbai coach Khalid Jamil.
Jamil stated that Moga abused his players and insulted them in Arabic language and termed his outbursts as totally unwarranted.
Sporting coach Ekendra Singh was a happy man with three points and the big margin of victory. “The team played very well and credit goes to the boys. He defended his player Moga and said that his counterpart coach had abused him with filthy language and that his player had only reciprocated him with in similar manner.”
