Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Sporting Clube de Goa scored an easy 3-0 win over Salgaocar FC to finish fourth in the Hero I-League, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Saturday.
The win took Sporting Clube’s tally to 22 points as they finished on a high note. Salgaocar FC remained on sixth place at the end of the league with 16 points from 16 matches.
Sporting Clube, who led 2-0 at half time scored through Pratesh Shirodkar (7th), Sumeet Passi (30th) and substitute Victorino Fernandes (87th).
Salgaocar FC made five changes and had early probing into their opponent goal but Pratesh Shirodkar early goal from 30-yard fierce volley caught them napping as they lost the grip and the Flaming Oranje slowly controlled the midfield with Rowllin Borges leading the attack.
Following a free kick, Salgaocar FC’s keeper Karanjit Singh managed to palm the ball away only to find Shirodkar who unleased a fierce 30-yard shot that found the back of the net.
The early goal spurred Sporting Clube, who kept on attacking and increased the lead in the 30th minute.
Mahmoud Al Amna initiated the move from the middle and relayed the ball to Nicholas on the left who beat the rival defence with a diagonal cross for Sumeet Passi to do the rest as Sporting led 2-0 at half time.
Salgaocar FC made a change after the break bringing in Martin Scott in place of Clencio Pinto to bring more thrust in the attack but the Flaming Oranje continued to dominate the midfield and Mahmoud Al Amna nearly made it 3-0 when his effort from inside the box was headed out by defender Augustin Fernandes.
Sporting Clube de Goa coach Mateus Costa brought in Victorino Fernandes in place of Sumeet Passi in the 81st minute and the move paid off as Victorino scored to take the match away from Salgaocar FC.
A couple of exchanges on the right saw Mahmoud Al Amna relay the ball to Victorino Fernandes inside the box who with a body feint beat rival defender before uncorking a curling left footer that found the far corner of the net.
