MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa registered a comfortable 4-1 win over Panjim Footballers in the 19th round league match of the GFA’s Professional league, played at Duler Stadium.
In the first leg meeting, Sporting had trounced Panjim 3-0.
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With Sunday’s win, the Flaming Oranje stay on top of the league table with 40 points while Panjim Footballers stay on 26 points.
Both teams were tied goalless at the end of first half with Akeeraj Martin scoring a brace while Joseph Clement and Marcus Mascarenhas were the other goal scorers. Clifton Fernandes pulled one back for Panjim Footballers.
Sporting were a constant treat for the Capital side right from the kick off but had nothing much to show on the scoreboard for their efforts in the first half due to some poor finishing by their front liners.
In the 22nd minute, Sporting had the ball at the back of the net but Marcus Mascarenhas was caught offside by the assistant referee and the goal was ruled out.
In the closing two minutes, Sporting`s Philip got past a couple of Panjim defenders but failed in keeping the shot goal wards with only keeper Rego at his mercy.
It was a shrewd substitution by Sporting’s coach Savio Vaz to introduce Akeraj Martins in the attack which paid dividends as he broke the deadlock in the 48th minute with an unstoppable shot which zoomed into the net, 1-0
Panjim introduced Clifton Fernandes in the second half, which had an instant reward as he got them level on terms in the 61st minute with a power-packed 35-yard shot which had no answer from the Sporting keeper, 1-1 to a wild celebration in the dugout.
However, their joy was short-lived as Sporting struck back through stopper back Joseph Clement who calmly converted the spot kick which was awarded by referee Deepraj Sangelkar for a dangerous tackle on Akeraj Martins by Panjim`s Joyson Gauncar, 2-1.
Sporting had numerous chances to kill off the match first Akeeraj Martins weaved his magic past the Panjim defence and keeper but failed in keeping his placement goal wards and then a shot by Marcus struck Panjim defender Kunal and went out for a corner.
Sporting added two goals in the stoppage time to return home with all three points. Marcus Mascarenmanaged to get the ball at the back of the net while Akeraj Martins completed his brace to round up the score tally, 4-1.
