TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Sporting Clube de Goa put up a formidable performance in the second session to thrash Goa Velha Sports Club 5-1 in a round two match of Airtel GFA Pro League football at Duler Stadium, here, Monday. All the goals came in the second session.
The highlight of the day was a four-goal blitz by Sporting Clube striker Boima Karpeh. The Liberian scored four goals in his second consecutive match for The Flaming Oranje.
The teams started positively after registering victories in their first round ties and were looking to continue the same form but couldn’t score in the first session.
Sporting Clube’s Spanish head coach Oscar Bruzon proved why he is the right man for the job as it was his second half tactics that changed the complexion of the match as he brought on Nigerian Kalu Ogba and Beevan D’Mello who were instrumental in his side’s big win.
Valeriano Rodrigues had the first try at the goal in the sixth minute but his powerful shot was thwarted by Goa Velha custodian Milagrio Madeira.
In the 14th minute, goalkeeper Milagrio pulled off another fine save to deny Sporting’s Rowllin Borges from scoring after the latter played a quick one-two with Boima.
Sporting enjoyed the lion’s share of ball possession but ran out of ideas upfront.
At the other end, Goa Velha were a subdued lot and hardly tested rival goalkeeper Saurav Chakraborty.
Changing over, Bruzon brought in Beevan and Kalu in place of Cajetan Fernandes and Valerio respectively.
The substitution soon paid off as Sporting Clube broke the deadlock in the 50th minute through Boima. Beevan’s clever through ball was picked up by speedy Boima, who outpaced Goa Velha left-back Cruz Gomes and slotted past the rival custodian with a deft placement.
Spurred by the opener, the Falming Oranje continued with the same rhythm and could have doubled their lead in the 53rd minute but Boima’s powerful header was cleared at the goal-line by Goa Velha’s Nester Dias for a corner-kick. Off the resultant flag-kick, Beevan’s ball sailed over the rival defenders and found Lesten, who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-0.
In the 64th minute, Sporting Clube were reduced to 10 men after Jovel Martins received a direct red card from referee Melwin D’Costa for a reckless challenge on Goa Velha’s Joe Colaco.
Down by two goals, Goa Velha stunned their rivals in the next minute after a 35-yard venomous shot from Manuel Crasto crashed into the top corner beating goalkeeper Saurav hands down.
In the 82nd minute, Boima sealed the fate of the rival team when he headed in off a well-measured flag-kick from Pratesh Shirodkar.
Two minutes later, Boima made it 4-1 off an assist from Rowllin Borges and then scored his fourth goal in the dying minute, thanks to a promising solo run by substitute Victorino Fernandes who did the spadework.
