MARGAO: Sporting Clube de Goa got the better of Santa Cruz Club Cavelossim 2-1 in the Goa Professional League match, at Rosary ground, Navelim, here, on Sunday.
Sporting Clube went into the match high on confidence banking on their successive victories in the previous fixtures. The initial phase of the match saw them put up a dominating performance as they pressed hard and kept testing the Cavelossim keeper.
The game plan paid-off early in the 12th minute when Sporting Clube won a free-kick on the right flank. Cajetan Fernandes stepped up to the occasion to send in a dangerous cross and the heavily packed Cavelossim defence managed to clear the ball only as far as Odafa who was prowling near the 16-yard mark. Odafa received the ball on a volley to control it over his chest before drilling a powerful shot in to give Sporting Clube the lead.
The next 30 minutes saw a fairly balanced game with both teams missing some glorious opportunities from close range. The best of which came for Sporting Clube when they won a free kick at the half way mark and Cajetan smartly realizing that the rival keeper Ram Sroop was out of position took a quick shot, placing the ball perfectly into the nets. However the referee denied the goal as he had not directed the play to resume.
The second half started on a high voltage with both the teams trying to get on the score sheet early as they stepped up the attack. However, The Flaming Oranje benefited from this as they caught Cavelossim off guard on a counter-attack. Mathew Gonsalves who was rock solid in the defense won a crucial tackle to send in a fantastic long ball to Marcus Mascarenhas who read the situation perfectly and made a dazzling run and finishing with a powerful right-footer in the 52nd minute.
Having the two goal advantage Sporting took control of the situation and contained Cavelossim attack. The introduction of Ndidi Chukwuma also added pace to the wings as he combined well with Odafa and Marcus.
The consolation goal for Cavelossim came in the added time when Sporting Clube gave away a free-kick at the edge of the box. Cavelossim were quick to take the free-kick and before Sporting could react and Marcus Fernandes nodded in a low cross beating Kamaljit to pull one goal back.
