Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa registered a convincing 3-1 win over Vasco SC in the Goa Professional Football League at Duler stadium here, today.
With today’s win Sporting tallied 18 points from 9 matches while Vasco stay at the bottom with just three points from also nine matches.
It was the Flaming Oranje that dictated terms in the first 25 minutes with Rohan Rodrigues netting a brace. Former international Cavin Lobo managed to pull a goal back for Port Towners in the 33rd minute.
Sporting’s Lloyd Mascarenhas worked tirelessly in the midfield. He latched on to a midfield pass and sent a stiff 25-yard grounder in the 12th minute. Vasco’s keeper Debasish Ghosal fumbled with his collection and onrushing Rohan Rodrigues slammed the ball home.
Just two minutes later, Sporting doubled their lead. Rohan Rodrigue collected a through pass from Stendly Fernandes, moved inside the penalty box and placed the ball into the far corner of the net.
Stendly almost netted Sporting’s third goal in the 17th minute, but his hot-blooded shot from close quarters was blocked by keeper Debasish at the expense of a corner.
The Port Towners regrouped themselves and exerted tremendous pressure on the rival citadel. Cavin Lobo collected a floater from skipper Francisco Fernandes who got past a host of defenders, moved inside the 18-yard box and sent a low cross at the goal which was, however, cleared by a Sporting defender.
Vasco succeeded in reducing the margin in the 33rd minute. Cavin Lobo combined with Ganesh Thakur and on entering the 18-yard box sent a stiff grounder past Sporting’s Under-20 keeper Bhaskar Jalmi.
Vasco were indeed unlucky not to get the equalizer in the 41st minute. Cavin found Ganesh Thakurinside in the danger zone and the last-named’s weak shot brushed past goalkeeper Bhaskar. However, Sporting’s stopper back Alton Vaz came up with a breath-taking clearance from the goalline.
Vasco went all out in search of the equalizer. An intelligent through pass by Ganesh Thakur to Cavin Lobo was, however, timely intercepted by the Sporting defence at the expense of a corner.
After minutes of midfield tussle Sporting pumped in their third goal in the 77th minute as a 25-yard grounder by Ivon Costa crashed into the far corner of the goal beating keeper Luis Barreto hands down.
In the closing stages, Odili Chidi’s strike was blocked by Sporting’s keeper Bhasker and later a strong header by Khrawkupar Tamu off Cavin Lobo’s free- kick sailed over the crossbar.
Rohan Rodrigues of Sporting Clube de Goa received the man-of-the match award from Cosme Oliveira, GFA’s Executive Comitteee member.
