Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
BAMBOLIM: Sporting Clube de Goa secured a 1-0 win in their first home match against Biswa Darjee netting the goal in the 9th minute at the Bambolim Athletics Stadium, on Tuesday.
What started as a tough start for Sporting Clube de Goa, with just one point secured in their second match against CNFC, has since gained momentum. After collecting only one point from their opening two away fixtures, the Flaming Oranje triumphed in front of their home supporters taking home another point against KLASA FC.
Sporting Clube lined up with Abhimanyu Singh in goal, supported by defenders Myron Fernandes, Joel Colaco, Joyner Lourenco and Kunal Kundaikar. The midfield saw Biswa Darjee, Ivon Costa, Dattaraj Gaonkar, Rohan Rodrigues and Naocha Singh dictating play while Doyal Alves led the attack. The substitutes’ bench featured Nitish (GK), Kima, Dhiraj, Samuel, Joyson G, Givson, Selwyn, Vikram, Semboi, Francisco
While Sporting Clube delivered a commanding performance, the opposing team faced their third defeat of the season, struggling to find the back of the net for four consecutive games.
Sporting Clube started brightly and took the lead early in the game. In the ninth minute, Naocha sent in a perfect delivery in the box to Biswa Dharjee where he buried the header in the goal. In the next minute Naocha had the chance to double the lead when Datta sent a great through pass to Naocha, whose touch seemed too heavy as his shot went over the onrushing keeper and the goal.
The first half remained 1-0 in favour of Sporting Clube.
In the second half, Sporting Clube displayed solid defensive efforts while creating several goal-scoring chances, but were unable to convert. In the 74th minute, Dattaraj Gaonkar was forced off the field for treatment, leaving Sporting with just ten players.
As the match neared its conclusion, KLASA FC earned a free kick in the 90th minute, but Sporting’s goalkeeper was well-placed to make a key save. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Sporting Clube de Goa held firm to secure a 1-0 victory. Sporting Clube’s next match will be an away fixture against USC on February 15, at Kalyani Stadium.