MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa registered a hard fought 3-2 win over Salgaocar FC in a GFA Super League match at Duler stadium, here, Wednesday.
After today’s thrilling win, Sporting moved to the top spot with 25 points. Salgaocar also have a tally of 25 points.
The teams played cautiously in the first half an hour with the goalkeepers being hardly tested. Thereafter, Sporting were all over the Salgaocar’s territory. A splendid cross from Rohan Rodrigues, inside the goal area, went waste as Joyson Gauncar head it out.
Later, in the 38th minute, Rohan Rodrigues found Joyson Gauncar inside the 6-yard box and the latter’s strong header was punched over by Salgaocar’s custodian Jason D’Mello. From the resultant corner Sporting’s skipper leapt high above the Salgaocar’s defenders and nodded the ball into the goal for the opening goal.
Just before the breather, Velito Cruz’s stiff grounder was superbly blocked by Salgaocar’s goalkeeper Jason.
On crossing over, Salgaocar’s coach Levino Pereira brought in his trumph player Fhezer Gomes and the last named responded with aplomb scoring a gem of a goal after dodging past several defenders.
Sporting hit back and regained the lead two minutes later. Rohan Rodrigues collected a through pass from Lloyd Cardozo, darted inside the penalty box and placed the ball into the far corner of the net.
Salgaocar exerted tremendous pressure and levelled terms in the 67th minute as striker Mark Carvalho headed the ball in, off Samuel Costa’s corner.
Mark could have scored again two minutes later, but after entering the 18-yard box he shot skywards with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy.
Sporting coach Armando Colaco brought in striker Marcus Mascarenhas but he was unlucky. Goalkeeper Jason blocked his try for a corner and off the flag kick Marcus’ header came off the crossbar.
In the seven minutes of add-on time, Sporting exerted themselves and Salgaocar’s custodian Jason blocked Joyson Gauncar’s try. However, the goalkeeper could do nothing as Joel Colaco netted the match-winner.Sporting’s Clive Miranda received the man-of-the match prize from Omkar Vaingankar.
