Sporting overcome Salgaocar 2-1
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
MAPUSA, OCT 10
Freiman Peixoto netted the winner seven minutes from end as Sporting Clube de Goa handed Salgaocar Sports Club their first 2-1 defeat in this season’s Kingfisher Pro League at Duler Stadium, here on Sunday. Sporting led 1-0 at the interval.
Sporting took the lead in the 16th through Mackroy Peixoto. Tomba Singh equalized eleven minutes from time only to go down to a late winner from Freiman.
Sporting played a Christmas tree 4-2-3-1 formation which totally confused their opponents as they did not know who they were marking. The U-20 players Mackroy Peixoto and Jovel Martins did well to impress.
Former Sporting striker Alvito Rodrigues looked sharp in the first half but the other two former Sporting players Luciano Sabroso and Chandrashekar Chenta did not have the best of matches by their standards as they made up the heart of the Salgaocar defence.
Salgaocar’s Alvito surprised the Sporting goalkeeper in the opening exchanges, by smashing a shot against the crossbar.
Sporting’s Jovel spectacularly flicked the ball past his opponent on the right wing and crossed into the danger zone, but Salgaocar did well to clear.
In the 16th Sporting’s Nigerian forward Emmanuel Akwuegbu shot a stiff grounder from the edge of the box which the Salgaocar initially saved but Mackroy was alert and gobbled up the rebound to give the lead to Sporting.
At half time, Jovel was replaced due to an injury and was replaced by Anthony D’Souza.
Midway through the second half Salgaocar thought they equalized when Reno Antao’s shot deflected of teammate Thoi Singh and beat Sporting custodian Felix D’Souza, but the linesman put his flag up as Thoi Singh was in an off-side position.
Salgaocar replaced Alvito with Beevan D’Mello while Sporting brought on Steven Fernandes for Bisheshwor Singh as the game went into the closing stages.
In the 79th, Gilbert Oliveira drove in a low cross along the 6-yard box which the Sporting defence failed to clear, allowing Tomba Singh to tap in the equalizer from close range.
Four minutes later Sporting regained the lead through Freiman who guided the ball over the Salgaocar custodian Arnab Das Sharma from the left wing with a sublime chip for the winner.
Salgaocar stay on nine points from four matches, while Sporting have four points from three matches.
