MARGAO: With relegation scare looming, Sporting Clube de Goa finally got off the mark and registered their maiden victory against Salgaocar FC 2-0 in Hero I-League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
The Flaming Oranje led 1-0 at half time
Sporting Clube, who were desperate for their first victory scored through Nigerian Odafe Okolie (11th) and Brandon Fernandes (60th).
Both the teams played evenly, Sporting Clube, winless for the last 13 matches, showed lot of purpose in their attack with Brandon looking more enterprising in the midfield as he combined well with Anthony Wolfe and Odafe Okolie to look for an early goal and succeeded in taking the lead in the 12th minute.
Brandon from the right split the rival defence with a clever high lob for Wolfe who in turn sent a low cross for Odafe inside the box, who made no mistake in slotting the ball into the net.
In the 30th minute, Odafa did well to take a powerful free-kick from thirty yards out for the visitors but Subrata Paul fisted the ball away from danger.
Paul was once again called into action two minutes later after Wolfe took a feeble shot at the near post as the Indian International goalkeeper dived to his left to protect his goal.
Salgaocar gradually settled down and made inroad into the rival half as they pressed hard in search of an equaliser but met stiff resistance from the rival defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Miguel Garcia, kept Darryl Duffy away from goal.
Sporting Clube’s youngsters Alber Gonsalves, Pratesh Shirodkar, Brandon combined well as they held the edge in the midfield over their rival.
In the second half Sporting Clube increased the lead in the 60th minute.
Alber worked his way on the right and got the better of defender Nicolau Colaco and sent a high cross on the right for Brandon, whose powerful volley touched defender Augustin Fernandes, to double his team’s lead.
Salgaocar went all out in the last quarter of the match but were thwarted by the rival defenders, who did everything to deny their opponent from scoring.
Salgaocar’s substitute Khaled Baleid had a chance to pull one back in the dying minutes but his try hit the side netting off Duffy pass.
Odafe, who put up a good show upfront scoring the first goal, saw his second attempt collected well by Salgaocar goalkeeper Subrata Paul, was awarded the man-of-the-match.
