MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa clinched the U-20 TACA Goa title following their 2–0 victory over the port town side Vasco SC, Duler Stadium, Mpausa, on Sunday.
With this win, Sporting have defended their title for the second consecutive year, with a game to spare.
Daryl Costa (11’) and Joel Colaco (53’) added a goal each in the either half’s to ensure Sporting earned full 3 points taking their tally to 19 from 7 outings.
The Flaming Oranje started off in style with Akeraj and Daryl causing some serious concerns for the Vasco defenders early in the match.
In the 11th minute Prisco Moura’s visionary through ball was perfectly executed by Daryl Costa who beat the offside trap to place it well beyond the exposed Vasco SC keeper.
After taking the lead, Sporting exploited the large gaps in Vasco midfield by keeping most of the possession to themselves.
Daryl should have doubled the lead at half hour mark when he latched on to a good cross from Brandon Gomes from right but the header went straight to the keeper.
Vasco had their best chance in the final 5 minutes of first half when a promising move in the mid found Kingslee Fernandes –who made a brilliant run on the left but failed to get his target right. Sporting led 1-0 at the break.
Crossing over, Sporting played a high pressing game trying to find the second goal. It took them just 8 minutes to hit the target when Joel Colaco caught hold of a half volley to put a thunderbolt into the Vasco net thereby ending any possible resurgence from the port town side.
Sporting came close twice in the second half through Akeraj Martins who saw his first strike miss the net by inches.
In the 73rd minute Akeraj did everything right including rounding off the keeper but Lenny Fernandes of Vasco made an extra ordinary goal line clearance to keep the score board static. Sporting dominated the rest of the game giving Vasco forwards very little area to operate.
Sporting coach Savio Vaz said “It was an all round performance from the boys, they have been consistent throughout the league and that was the most important thing for us. They deserved every bit of this.”
Speaking to media, club president Peter Vaz said: “Congratulations to the boys, coaches and management for the first silverware of this season, this is the second consecutive year that our club has won this title. It shows that our youth development is heading in the right direction. I only fear for their future, with every passing day the opportunities to play at a national level are shrinking.”
