TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Sporting Clube de Goa pulled off a stunning 2-1 win over Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan in a 15th round I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Thursday. There was no score at half time.
Park Jae-Hyun made his Sporting Clube de Goa debut in the I-League, starting the match in a slightly withdrawn position to James Moga while Anthony D’Souza and Freiman Peixoto slotted in on the left and right wing respectively.
Park had two chances to score but the 31-year-old was replaced by Victorino Fernandes.
The Flaming Orange made it clear right from the outset that they were not going to let Mohun Bagan dictate terms, holding their own in the midfield while remaining solid at the back.
Sporting took on an attacking mode and maintained the momentum right through. Strikers James Moga and latest acquisition South Korean Jae Hyun Park combined well with midfielders Rollin Borges, Freiman Peixoto, Anthony D’Souza and Jovel Martins.
The Sporting defense marshaled by Keita Boubacar and Samaanda Singh showed fine anticipation and alertness to frustrate the Mohun Bagan strikers, Odafe Okolie and Brazilian Jose Ramires Barretto. Both were rendered as mere passengers with Keita, who was later named man-of- the-match also proving a hard nut to crack.
Bagan certainly did not deserve to win. They were unable to stitch a decent move and seldom troubled the rival defense.
Bagan started with two strikers Odafe and Baretto, but the two did not get adequate support from the midfield and hardly tasted Sporting goalkeeper Ashok Singh.
The Flaming Orange had their fair share of chances. James Moga’s well executed snap shot was blocked by Bagan goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee and later, midfielder Freiman Peixoto’s rasping drive was collected by Sangram. Bagan had chance in the 17th minute when Syed Nabi Rahim leapt high and headed towards goal but it was averted by a Sporting defender. Off the flag kick taken by Snehasish Chakraborthy, Rahim in an attempt to connect it, suffered a cut inside the mouth and was taken to NUSI Wockharrd Hosptial, Cuncolim for treatment.
Sporting had an excellent chance to surge ahead subsequently, but on both occasions, James Moga missed the target narrowly.
The change of sides saw Sporting coming in full force. Anthony D’Souza created a fine opening, but Moga failed to direct the shot into the goal.
It was in the 65th minute that Sporting broke the deadlock when Keita headed home Anthony’s flag-kick which sent the Sporting fans into raptures.
Bagan were forced to raise the tempo and this helped them to score the equaliser. A chip from Baretto was controlled by Manish whose shot deflected off a rival defender and Rakesh Masih, without wasting time, turned and slotted past Ashok Singh.
Sporting hit back with vengeance and shocked the Kolkata outfit with the match-winner in the 81st minute. Substitute Ogba Kalu judged the flight of the ball floated by Anthony well and smartly headed goalwards where it grazed the post and entered the goal eluding Sangram.
Bagan retaliated and Baretto failed to head in a cross from Hudson Lima Silva.
With this win, Sporting have 20 points from 15 matches while Bagan suffered their third defeat and have 27 points from 15 matches .
Sporting coach Ekendra Singh as expected was thrilled after the match. “It was a collective brilliance of the players. We went into the match with a positive frame of mind, knowing fully well that we could beat Bagan.”
Bagan coach Prasanta Bannerjee was not too disappointed with the result. “We also missed the services of key players and early injury to Nabi Syed Nabi affected the game. Key striker Odafe played despite not being fully fit. There was no coordination between the midfielders and that was the downfall.”
The Bagan coach was disappointed with the supervision by referee C R Krishna from TN. “He failed to book the rival defenders who repeatedly were elbowing Odafe. It was so bad that a red card was warranted. There were many calls which went against us and I am sorry to say that this is how the referees function.”
