MAPUSA: Sporting Clube De Goa climbed to the top spot in the league table with a crucial 2-0 win over FC Goa in the reschedule fourth round match of the GFA’s Professional league, at Duler stadium, here, on Friday.
After Friday’s win, Sporting have 24 points from ten matches while FC Goa have 14 points from 9 matches.
Sporting scored a goal in each half through Nigerian Philip Odogwu and Marcus Mascarenhas.
Both the teams fresh from their wins in their last league matches started positively with Sporting having an upper hand for the first fifteen minutes in which they scored the first goal.
It was a well worked short corner between Sporting U-20 Stendly Fernandes and George D`Souza who passed the ball to Peter Carvalho who in turn slid it to Nigerian Philip Odogwu whose firm low grounder gave no chance to keeper Antonio Da Silva.
Stung by the goal, FC Goa regrouped and in the 31st minute Lalawmpuia well struck 30-yard free-kick was magnificently tipped over the crossbar by keeper Melroy Fernandes.
Minutes later, U-20 Sweden Fernandes after getting hold off a pass from Nestor Dias busted towards the danger box but could not keep his rising shot within the goal framework.
Young Gaurs kept creating chances to get back level on terms but could not find a way pass the brilliant Sporting keeper Melroy who first denied Lalawmpuia and then Christy Davis before the half-time whistle.
Crossing ends, Sporting could have doubled their lead in the 55th minute, Stendly Fernandes after outfoxing a couple of FC Goa defenders with his quick body faints released Marcus Mascarenhas whose cracking right footer was kept out for a corner by keeper Antonio Da Silva.
In search of a goal, Young Gaurs coach Derrick Pereira introduced Aaren D`Silva to bolster the attack along with Lalawmpuia and Lalnuntlluanga.
Minutes into the match, a long floater from Sporting’s George into the danger box was well read by keeper Antonio before Marcus could get to the end of it and smash it into the net.
Sporting had a golden chance to wrap up the match in the 76th minute when Akeraj’s clever square pass found a well-positioned Marcus who could not get the better of keeper Antonio from close range.
But it did not take long for their marksman Marcus Mascrenhas to make amends for his earlier miss when he applied finishing touches from a dangerous cross whipped into the box from the left flank by Stendly which caught the Young Gaurs defense napping to make it 2-0.
