Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
BAMBOLIM: Sporting Clube de Goa wrapped up their I-League 2 season with a gripping final clash against SAT Tirur at the Athletic Stadium, here, on Friday. The club, currently topping the Goa Professional League standings, fell short despite a strong performance with the match ending 3-2 in favor of SAT Tirur.
The first half was a thrilling display of attacking football from both sides, with Sporting Clube taking a narrow lead into the break.
The match got off to a fast-paced start as Sporting Clube took the lead in the 20th minute. A precise pass from Semboi Haokip found Doyal Alves, who expertly placed the ball into the back of the net, giving Sporting Clube the advantage.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just five minutes later, in the 25th minute, Aqib Nawab from SAT Tirur responded with a brilliant shot that levelled the score at 1-1. Both teams then exchanged several near misses, with headers flying just over the crossbar, highlighting the intensity of the contest.
In the 34th minute, Sporting Clube’s goalkeeper, Rana, made a crucial save to deny Nawab’s attempt from a corner. Shortly after, SAT Tirur had another corner kick, but the subsequent shot missed the target, leaving the score level at 1-1.
The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Sporting Clube’s midfielder Givson Singh delivered a perfectly executed slanted strike, putting the hosts back in the lead as the half ended 2-1 in their favor.
The second half saw SAT Tirur equalise in the 71st minute, as captain Senthamil slotted home a composed finish, making it 2-2. With the match on a knife’s edge, Sabarin Bush delivered the decisive blow in the 89th minute, firing a powerful shot from the center to give SAT Tirur a 3-2 lead. Despite Sporting Clube de Goa’s relentless efforts, the visitors held on to secure the victory.